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From  Boston  to  Bareilly 


AND  BACK. 


BY 

WILLIAM       BUTLER. 


''^Earth's  fairest  recblms  in  clearest  Teen 
Stretched  out  to  the  amplest  reach  of  prospect  lay; 
Q!he  eye  might  there  command  wherever  stood 
City  of  old,  or  modern  fame,  the  seat 
Of  mightiest  empire  from  the  destined  walls 
Of  Camhalu,  seat  of  Cathaian  Khan, 
;find  Samarcand  hy   Oxus,  QHmur's  throne, 
Co  (PeTcin  of  Bincean  Kings,  and  thence 
Q^o  :^gra  and  Lahor  of  great  Jloghul, 
Qown  to  the  golden  Chersonese." 

Milton's  PaR4.di8k  Lost,  Book  XI. 


New  York : 

PHILLIPS    &    HUNT. 

Cincinnati : 

CRANSTON    &    STOWE, 

1886. 


c/ 


Copyright,  1885,  by 

PHILLIPS    &    HUNT, 

New  York. 


THIS    BOOK 

TO  THE  HON.  JACOB  SLEEPER, 
"CHAPLAIN"  C.  C.  McCABE,  D.D., 

AND  TO  THOSE    OTHER    KIND    FRIENDS  WHO   UNITED  WITH  THEM   IN  FURNISHING 

THE   MEANS   WHICH   CONFERRED   UPON  THE  WRITER,   HIS   WIFE,  AND 

DAUGHTER  THE   PECULIAR   AND    EVER-TO-BE-REMEMBERED 

PRIVILEGE  WHICH   THE   FOLLOWING   PAGES 

ATTEMPT  TO  DESCRIBE,  BY 

THE  AUTHOR. 

Boston^  1885. 


M347001 


PREFACE 


THIS  work  owes  its  origin  to  the  kind  suggestion 
of  the  Eev.  J.  H.  Vincent,  D.D.  It  has  been 
my  effort,  in  its  preparation,  to  keep  close  to  the 
ideal  wliich  he  presented  as  to  what  should  be  its 
character  and  aim.  I  found  it  impracticable  to  finish 
the  work  at  an  earlier  date,  chiefly  on  account  of  the 
statistics  ;  but  I  feel  satisfied  that  the  reader  will  not 
regret  the  delay,  when  he  comes  to  consider  the 
value  of  the  figures  presented ;  a  large  portion  of 
which  had  to  be  referred  to  India  for  more  careful 
verification.  The  privilege  conferred  upon  the 
writer  of  this  book  was  unique.  After  tlie  expiration 
of  twenty-sevren  years,  those  who  sent  him  forth  in 
1856,  on  the  duty  of  founding  a  mission  for  their 
Church,  concluded,  in  their  generosity,  to  send  him 
again,  that  he  might  witness  its  development,  and 
rejoice  over  "what  God  had  wrought"  during  the 
interval  in  the  field  which  he  had  selected,  and  along 
the  lines  of  labor  w^hich  he  then  laid  out  for  his 
associates  and  successors. 

Few  founders  of  missions  have  been  thus  favored 
as  to  time  and  circumstance  and  the  opportunity 
for  reviewing  their  work.     Perhaps  not  one  among 


6  Pkeface. 

them  has  been  so  peculiarly  privileged,  in  view  of 
the  extraordinary  circumstances  w^hich  attended  the 
origin  of  our  mission  in  the  great  Gangetic  Valley. 

The  reader  will  excuse  the  occasional  references 
which  I  had  to  make  to  my  other  work,  The  Land 
of  the  Veday  as  this  book  is,  in  a  sense,  the  sequel 
of  that  work.  The  Zand  of  the  Veda  shows  "  what 
entering  in"  we  had,  and  the  immense  resistance 
which  Almighty  God  overcame  in  order  to  open 
the  way  for  the  Gospel  which  we  had  to  plant 
there  for  him.  This  book  shows  the  results  wliicli 
have  been  accomplished,  and  enables  the  Cliurch 
to  understand  what  is  the  outcome  and  answer  to 
lier  liberality  and  prayers,  and  thus  gives  the 
facts  by  which  she  can  contrast  the  fearful  condi- 
tion of  her  mission  field  in  India  in  1856  with  the 
blessed  changes  and  results  which  it  exhibits  in  1884. 

It  has  been  said  that  "  truth  is  stranger  than 
fiction."  Of  the  assertion  this  book  will  furnish 
many  illustrations.  As  a  participator  and  eye-witness 
of  most  of  the  events  described,  it  is  a  duty  that  I 
should  not  leave  them  unrecorded,  and  especially 
w^hen  I  have  been  so  highly  favored  as  to  revisit  the 
scenes  where  they  occurred,  and  review  and  rejoice 
over  those  victories  for  Christ  and  Christian  civiliza- 
tion which  the  record  of  the  first  quarter  of  a  cent- 
ury presents  to  the  Church. 

William  Butlek. 

88  Bhomfield  Street,  Boston,  Mass. 


FROM  BOSTON  TO  BAREILLY. 


CHAPTEE  I. 

"  And  some  days  after,  Paul  said  unto  Barnabas,  Let  us  go  again 
and  visit  our  brethren  in  every  city  where  we  have  preached  the 
word  of  the  Lord,  and  see  how  they  do.  .  .  .  And  [they]  departed, 
being  recommended  by  the  brethren  unto  the  grace  of  God."  Acts 
XV,  36,  40. 

Boston,  AjjtU  5,  1883. — In  the  record  of  the  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Kew  England  Annual  Conference, 
held  on  this  date  in  Bromfield  Street  Church,  there 
occurs  the  following  passage : 

When  the  name  of  Dr.  William  Butler  was  called,  the  pre- 
siding elder  presented  the  following  resolution,  which  was^ 
unanimously  adopted  by  a  rising  vote: 

Resolved,  That  this  Conference  has  heard  witli  deep  grati- 
tude of  the  intended  visit  of  our  brother,  Dr.  William  Butler, 
and  his  devoted  wife,  to  our  missions  in  India,  tlie  scene 
where,  under  God,  by  labors,  sacrifices,  and  devotion  of  the 
most  truly  apostolic  type,  they  became  the  honored  foun^Jers 
of  that,  among  the  largest  and  most  prosperous  of  our  Church 
missions.  We  rejoice  that  God  has  raised  up  to  them  frien«l8 
wlio  have  so  liberally  contributed  to  enable  them  to  enjoy 
this  privilege;  and  we  bid  them  the  most  hearty  Godspeed, 
and  assure  them  of  our  earnest  prayers  for  their  health  and 
success  in  their  undertaking  and  a  safe  return  again  to  Ui. 


8  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

On  this  action  tlie  editor  of  Zionh  Herald  was  kind 
enough  to  remark : 

One  of  the  most  interesting  events  of  the  present  session  of 
the  New  England  Conference  was  the  passage  of  the  fraternal 
resolution  in  reference  to  the  visit  of  Dr.  and  Mrs.  William 
Butler  to  India  during  the  coming  year,  and  the  responses 
made  by  them.  We  have  rarely  seen  the  Conference  more 
moved  than  it  was  by  the  address  of  Dr.  Butler,  in  which  he 
referred  to  the  remarkable  religious  progress  since  he  entered 
alone  the  field  of  his  mission  in  Northern  India,  and  espe- 
cially to  his  providential  eecape  in  the  Sepoy  rebellion,  and 
his  witnessing  of  the  sentence  and  execution  of  the  great 
leader  of  it.  Tears  and  subdued  shouts  bore  witness  to  tlie 
deep  emotions  awakened  by  the  magnetic  power  and  elo- 
quence of  the  doctor's  reminiscences. 

Amid  that  blessed  scene  how  easy  it  was  for  the  mind 
to  rush  back  to  the  same  !New  England  Conference, 
when,  on  the  morning  of  April  8,  1856,  Bishop  Janes 
presiding,  I  stood  before  that  body  to  take  my  fare- 
well, and  they  listened  and  gazed  upon  me  with  tear- 
ful eyes,  as  I  was  abont  to  go  forth  in  their  name  to 
found  a  mission  in  the  far  East,  but  with  no  definite 
idea  where  it  would  be  located,  and  with  none  there 
then  to  bid  us  welcome !  But  ere  we  say  more  about 
that  occasion,  let  us  follow  the  present  events,  until 
they  lead  us  back,  as  they  surely  will,  by  a  w^onderful 
line  of  providences,  to  that  remarkable  hour,  twenty- 
seven  years  ago,  in  the  city  of  Salem.  The  present 
first  demands  our  attention. 

The  Boston  Methodist  Preachers'  Meeting  passed 
resolutions  as  cordial  as  those  of  the  Conference  here 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  9 

given,  and  had  even  appointed  their  presiding  offi- 
cer and  two  of  their  number  to  attend  the  farewell 
meeting  in  New  York,  and  then  see  ns  off  from  that 
port  on  tlie  following  morning.  With  similar  kind- 
ness the  ISTew  York  Preachers'  Meeting  took  action, 
appointed  a  committee  of  their  number,  with  Dr. 
Curry  as  chairman,  and  arranged  for  two  meetings, 
one  in  St.  Paul's,  IS'ew  York,  and  another  in  Sum- 
merfield  Church,  Brooklyn,  as  well  as  for  the  farewell 
meeting  in  Washington  Square  Church  on  the  even- 
ing before  we  were  to  sail.  This  latter  service  w^as 
the  crowning  occasion  of  all.  Bishop  Harris  pre- 
sided, and  Drs.  Keid  and  Fowler,  the  Missionary  Sec- 
retaries, addressed  tlie  crowded  audience,  and  con- 
gratulated "The  Father  and  Mother  of  the  Indian 
Mission,"  who  were  thus  so  munificently  privileged 
to  go  forth  to  visit  the  scene  of  their  former  labors, 
attended  by  the  sympathy  and  blessings  of  the  whole 
Church.  The  singing  was  inspiring,  especially  the 
new  hymn,  "  The  Church's  Rallying  Song,"  printed 
for  the  occasion  and  distributed  among  the  audience. 
It  was  delightful  to  see  the  gifted  authoress  of  the 
hymn,  Fanny  Crosby,  herself  in  the  congregation, 
her  face  aglow  and  her  sightless  eyeballs  rolling  with 
enthusiasm,  as  she  sang,  with  the  rest,  her  own  grand 
words ;  while  J.  E.  Sweeney,  the  composer  of  the 
music,  presided  at  the  organ,  and  did  justice  to  his 
own  composition.  Then  Chaplain  M'Cabe,  sustained 
by  W.  J.  Kirkpatrick,  led  that  wonderful  outburst 


10  Feom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

of  glorious  song,  in  whicli  a  tliousand  voices  united  ! 
Perhaps  heaven  does  not  often  hear  from  earth  a 
more  enthusiastic  paean  of  Christian  joj. 

It  certainly  ought  to  have  inspired  me  when  my 
turn  came  to  speak  to  such  an  audience,  and  under 
such  circumstances.  But,  though  so  v^ell  used  to 
address  public  assemblies,  and  especially  on  the  topic 
of  Christian  missions,  I  found  myself  so  over- 
mastered by  my  emotions  that  I  began  to  hope 
I  should  not  be  required  to  say  any  thing  upon  tlie 
occasion.  1  felt  like  one  dazed,  and  wondering 
whether  all  this  honor  and  these  words  of  eulogy 
were  not  spoken  of  some  one  else  than  myself. 
But  I  was  called,  and  had  to  address  the  audience ; 
my  feelings  overpowered  me,  and  I  realized  how 
weak  I  was,  and  how  unworthy  of  this  commenda- 
tion. Beyond  all  former  experience,  I  estimated  how 
appropriate  and  safe  was  humility,  and  had  a  con- 
sciousness that  the  joy  of  heaven,  and  the  words  of 
approval  from  the  lips  of  even  the  blessed  Master 
himself,  can  best  coexist  with  the  most  profound  self- 
renunciation,  and  the  entire  and  hearty  ascriptions  of 
all  the  honor  and  glory  of  whatever  good  is  done  to 
Him  to  whom  alone  the  praise  is  due.  "He  that 
glorieth,  let  him  glory  in  the  Lord."  Yet  I  could  not 
but  feel  what  compensation  was  here  for  the  long  and 
anxious  responsibilities  which  I  had  tried  conscien- 
tiously to  bear  for  my  Church  and  my  God  in  that 
far-off  land  to  which  we  were  returning,  and  how  on 


From  Boston  to  Bar  kill  y.  11 

this  glad  occasion  I  was  so  amply  repaid.  We  had 
then  to  take  our  stand  in  the  altar,  and  for  nearly  an 
hour  wife  and  daughter  and  myself  had  such  a  hand- 
shaking as  we  never  knew  before :  and  still  the  people 
lingered,  and  many  a  tearful  "  Good-bye  "  and  "  God 
bless  you ! "  were  spoken. 

Next  day.  May  5,  1883,  a  large  concourse  of  these 
sympathizing  friends  assembled  at  the  *'  Anchor  Line  " 
pier,  where  the  steamer  Devonia  lay  ready  for  depart- 
ure. They  soon  tilled  the  saloon.  Brother  Cooper, 
on  behalf  of  the  Boston  Preachers'  Meeting,  and 
Chaplain  M'Cabe  gave  the  farewell  words,  the  warn- 
ing wliistle  sounded,  and  our  friends  passed  to  the 
wharf  and  remained  there  to  see  us  off.  Even  then 
their  wonderful  kindness  had  not  ended,  for  they  held 
an  informal  consultation  and  agreed  that  if  we  wished 
to  return  home  from  India  by  China  and  Japan,  they 
would  furnish  the  additional  funds  to  enable  us  to  do 
so.  Our  beloved  Brother  M'Cabe  (who,  under  God, 
originated  this  delightful  trip  for  us)  came,  on  their  be- 
half, to  the  side  of  the  ship,  made  the  additional  offer, 
and  urged  its  acceptance.  I  promised  to  give  it  care- 
ful and  grateful  consideration  during  the  voyage. 
But,  while  fully  appreciating  the  interest  and  joy  it 
would  be  sure  to  yield  us,  and  especially  to  see  our 
missions  in  China  and  Japan,  we  felt  that  we  ought 
not  to  allow  these  kind  friends  to  go  to  further  ex- 
pense on  our  account,  especially  as  the  great  privilege 
already  conferred   in  this  visit  to  our  own  mission 


12  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

field  was  in  itself  an  enjoyment  so  complete  and  sat- 
isfactory. 

A  few  minutes  after  three  o'clock  P.  M.  the  last 
cable  was  let  go,  and  the  great  ship  moved  into  the 
river,  and  turned  her  head  to  her  course.  But  as 
long  as  we  could  see  that  wharf,  we  could  discern  the 
waving  handkerchiefs  which  signaled  the  loving 
benedictions  of  our  noble  friends.  Thank  God  for 
true  Christianity !  Nothing  else  could  create  and 
consummate  the  privilege  and  the  joy  of  such  an 
hour  as  this.  How  fervently  we  prayed  that  night, 
in  our  sea-home,  that  God  might  remember  every 
one,  from  first  to  last,  who  had  united  and  sympa- 
thized in  conferring  upon  us  this  great  privilege  and 
joy !  Surely  if  an_y  thing  could  make  an  old  mis- 
sionary superintendent  feel  young  again,  to  be  the 
center  of  a  scene  like  this  ought  to  do  it.  But  the 
joy  was  deepened  w^hen  I  reflected  upon  the  fact  that 
was  underlying  it  all,  and  that  fact  was,  how  much 
the  Church  must  value  her  mission  in  India  when 
she  can  thus  so  magnanimously  treat  the  humble 
founders  of  that  work !  We  had  no  other  claim 
to  her  consideration,  and  she  was  generous  enougli 
to  consider  this  sufiicient.  But  the  reader  will  kind- 
ly excuse  all  this  talk  about  ourselves.  "We  will  pro- 
ceed to  speak  of  the  voyage,  and  one  or  two  of  its 
incidents. 

We  had  about  eighty  saloon  passengers,  mostly 
quiet  people.     There  was  very  little  drinking  or  loose 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  13 

language.  We  had  no  storms  certainly,  and  tlie  offi- 
cers said  the  "  weather  was  fine,"  though  there  were 
many  of  our  number,  among  the  ladies  especially,  wlio 
concluded  that  these  sea-faring  people  had  a  defini- 
tion of  their  own  for  the  word  "  fine."  When  one 
'  goes  on  board  an  immense  ship  of  this  class,  4,279  tons 
burden,  he  cannot  at  first  realize  that  any  power  less 
than  a  storm  can  make  her  heave  up  her  great  form 
and  roll  about  as  if  she  were  a  mere  whale-boat.  The 
reflecting  mind  will  naturally  turn  in  such  circum- 
stances to  Him,  the  Almighty  One,  who  has  con- 
ferred this  wondrous  force  upon  these  elements, 
whose  play  around  you  is  so  amazing,  and  gather 
comfort  from  the  thought  that  there  is  more  than 
power  here.  There  is  control  and  guidance  of  these 
forces  by  Him  who  "rides  on  the  whirlwind  and 
directs  the  storm."  This  justifies  the  prayer  with 
which  the  anxious  heart  invokes  his  blessed  protec- 
tion from  the  raging  violence  around,  and  the  con- 
■fident  expectation  of  being  brought  in  safety  to  "the 
desired  haven." 

On  the  fourth  day  out  we  were  crossing  "the 
Banks,"  where  the  cod-fishing  is  carried  on — a  wild 
and  exposed  occupation,  prosecuted  amid  perils  of  its 
own  by  our  hardy  "  toilers  of  the  sea."  The  locality 
where  we  were  now  floating  naturally  suggested  to 
the  memory  those  queer  lines  which  were  found  about 
two  hundred  years  ago  in  the  psalmody  of  the  times : 
lines    which,    in    these    days   of  sweeter  songs    and 


14  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

perhaps  of  sweeter  singers,  make  one  wonder  tliat  such 
doggerel  ever  could  have  been  tolerated  for  an  hour 
by  Christian  people.  The  poet  w^ho  perpetrated  this 
amazing  versification  must  have  been  at  a  great  loss 
for  illustration,  if  not  for  sense,  w4ien  he  allowed  his 
imagination  to  lead  him  to  "  evolve  from  the  depths 
of  his  inner  consciousness "  the  following  whimsical 
specimen  of  hymnology : 

"  Ye  monsters  of  the  briny  deep, 

Your  Maker's  praises  spout ; 
Up  from  your  sands,  ye  codlings,  peep — 

Aud  wag  your  tails  about  1  " 

The  remembrance  of  these  queer  lines  was  enough 
to  make  a  man  laugh,  even  though  he  were  sea- 
sick. The  laugh  might  have  been  longer  and  more 
relieving,  too,  as  we  lay  there  and  held  on,  but  for 
the  untimely  interference  of  the  Devonia  herself. 
For  just  here  she  had  begun  to  act  as  though  resolved 
to  draw  our  attention  from  those  codfish  and  that 
poetry  to  the  contemplation  of  her  own  performances, 
with  that  great  "  tail "  of  hers,  which,  as  it  rose  and 
fell,  and  went  round  and  round,  and  "  wagged  "  from 
side  to  side,  showed  how  it  could  thrill  and  stir  you 
up,  until  all  your  poetry  was  gone,  and  several  other 
things  along  with  it,  and  you  had  to  conclude  that  the 
situation  was  not  friendly  to  merriment,  and  all  the 
more  because  this  specimen  of  her  ability  to  "  wag 
her  tail  about "  became  more  lively  in  its  manifesta- 
tions, and  was  pertinaciouslj^  persisted  in,  as  if  to  show 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  15 

how  tliorouglilj  it  could  be  done,  and  what  pleasure 
she  took  in  doing  it !  Still,  in  spite  of  her,  we  did 
have  our  little  laugh,  and  concluded  therefrom  what 
a  good  tonic  in  sea-sickness  a  hearty  laugh  must  be, 
and  especially  if  you  can  have  a  few  of  them  quickly 
after  each  other.  On  reaching  the  shore,  and  falling 
in  with  an  old  antiquarian  friend  of  mine,  I  inquired 
if  he  knew  where  the  quotation  before  mentioned 
could  be  found.  He  promptly  informed  me  that  a 
copy  of  the  book  was  in  the  library  of  Trinity  Col- 
lege, Dublin,  and  offered  to  aid  me  in  obtaining  a 
sight  of  it.  I  did  not  need  his  assurance  that  the 
quotation,  though  in  a  version  of  the  Psalms,  had  no 
authorization  from  the  sacred  Hebrew.  Of  course 
not.  God's  holy  Book  never  violates  good  taste  or 
utters  any  thing  preposterous,  nor  should  it  be  held 
responsible  for  the  human  errors  which  some  of  its 
expositors,  poets,  and  painters  have  committed.  I 
did  not  accept  my  friend's  assistance  in  searching  for 
the  book. 

Our  careful  captain  had  chosen  a  southerly  course 
to  avoid  meeting  with  icebergs,  and  until  the  fifth 
day,  when  in  latitude  42°  23'  and  longitude  51°  03', 
we  did  not  sight  any.  But  early  that  morning  one 
was  passed,  and  three  more  before,  midday,  all  of 
them,  however,  away  to  the  north  and  quite  a  distance 
from  us.  But  about  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon 
one  was  discerned  right  on  our  course.  The  after- 
noon  was    fine,  sea-sickness  was    forgotten,   and  all 


16  Fbom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

crowded  on  deck  to  see  that  great  sight.  Every  eye 
was  soon  fixed  upon  it,  though  we  required  more 
than  an  hour  aud  a  lialf  to  come  abreast  of  it.  It  was, 
to  the  passengers  at  least,  an  awful  sight,  and  we 
shuddered  at  the  thought  of  our  great  ship  rushing 
on  to  collision  with  such  an  object  in  the  darkness  of 
the  night.  Here  was  explanation  enough  why  some 
vessels  have  never  been  heard  of  after  leaving  port. 
This  berg  seemed  almost  a  cube  in  shape.  We  dis- 
cussed its  dimensions  and  sought  information  from 
the  officers.  It  was  generally  agreed  that  it  was 
about  four  hundred  feet  long  on  the  sides  and  per- 
haps over  one  hundred  feet  high!  Though  I  had 
crossed  the  Atlantic  six  times,  I  never  before  liad  an 
opportunity  of  seeing  an  iceberg,  and  now,  to  see  one 
so  large  and  so  near,  was  quite  an  event.  The  afternoon 
sun  was  shining  upon  the  tall  side,  and  made  it  look 
as  brilliant  in  its  majesty  as  it  was  terrible.  To  crash 
into  that  cold  mass  would  be  as  sure  destruction  as  to 
strike  any  precipice  that  overhangs  tlie  sea,  with  the 
additional  horror  that  there  might  not  be  the  most 
distant  chance  of  help  or  escape,  and  that  the  sur- 
rounding waters,  which  would  engulf  the  unhappy  pas- 
sengers, in  their  intensity  of  cold  would  freeze  them 
to  death  in  a  few  moments.  Although  we  were  so  far 
away,  the  increasing  cold  which  emanated  from  it  in 
the  air  and  in  the  sea,  changed  all  the  conditions 
around  us.  Our  ship  was  kept  not  less  than  a  mile 
and  a  quarter  south  of  it,  and  our  careful  officers  had 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  17 

been  all  day  testing  the  water  and  the  air  every  half- 
hour.  By  such  process  they  are  able,  in  the  darkness 
of  the  night,  to  discover  the  nearness  of  such  a  danger, 
and  so  may  decide  upon  requisite  precautions.  Half 
an  hour  before  we  came  abreast  of  this  berg  the  water 
was  found  to  register  54°,  while  abreast  of  it  the 
mercury  had  fallen  to  38°  and  the  air  had  become 
nearly  10°  colder  than  it  was  half  an  hour  previous. 
Half  an  hour  after  passing  (say  six  miles)  the  con- 
ditions corresponded  with  what  they  were  one  hour 
before.  Such  was  the  chill  created  on  tlie  outer  rim 
of  a  circle  that  was  two  and  a  half  miles  in  diameter. 
$he  reader  can  imagine  how  the  thermometer  would 
register  half  a  mile  or  a  full  mile  nearer,  and  what  it 
would  likely  be  by  its  side. 

AYe  also  had  discussions  as  to  what  proportion  of 
this  mountain  of  ice  must  have  been  below  the  snr- 
face,  in  order  to  sustain  the  Inige  dimensions  w^hich 
towered  up  above  the  water.  The  displacement 
seemed  to  us  almost  incredible.  Although  the  com- 
position of  the  berg  is  said  to  include  great  masses  of 
compacted  snow,  the  specific  gravity  of  which  is  not 
equal  to  the  rest,  and  that  the  whole  mass  is  not, 
therefore,  as  hard  and  consistent  as  the  ice  blocks  with 
which  we  cool  our  summer  beverages ;  yet,  after  mak- 
ing all  allowance  for  this,  let  any  one  contemplate  a 
piece  of  ice  as  it  floats  in  his  tumbler  of  water,  and 
lie  may  gain  some  adequate  idea  of  the  colossal  pro- 
portions  of   this  mountain  of  subrperged   ice,  wliich 


18  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

could  float  and  sustain  to  one  Inmdred  feet  above  tlie 
water  this  fearful  object,  which  for  three  hours  we 
watched  with  such  intense  interest.  It  was  generally 
agreed  that  at  least  seven  eighths  of  the  whole  mass 
must  have  been  under  the  surface.  If  this  calcula- 
tion be  correct,  then  this  mountain  of  ice  must  have 
been  eight  hundred  feet  high  from  bottom  to  top ! 
It  impressed  us  as  having  such  power  of  resistance  to 
the  sun  that  it  would  require  years  of  time  to  melt  it 
down,  especially  as  the  reserve  below  would  come  to 
the  surface  as  fast  as  the  top  portion  melted  away. 
And  so,  pei'haps,  it  would,  were  it  not  for  the  pro- 
vision made  by  the  Almighty  to  have  the  warm  soutli^ 
wind  concur  with  the  gulf  stream  to  act  on  the  enor- 
jnous  mass.  How  long  this  one  had  been  floating 
around,  or  where  it  came  from,  who  can  tell !  But, 
what  a  sight  it  must  have  been  when  it  first  let  go 
its  fastenings  within  the  Arctic  regions,  and  tore  its 
thundering  way  down  those  eternal  hills  of  ice  and 
dashed  into  the  deep  and  astonished  ocean  ! 

Yet  this  enormous  mass  was  only  one  of  those 
"  morsels  "  from  his  "  treasuries,"  to  which  the  Lord 
God  Almighty  referred  when  he  showed  Job  his  ut- 
ter insignificance,  by  asking  him,  "  Where  wast  thou 
when  I  laid  the  foundations  of  the  earth?  declare, 
if  thou  hast  understanding.  .  Hast  thou  entered  into 
the  treasures  of  the  snow  ?  or  hast  thou  seen  the 
treasures  of  the  hail  ?  Out  of  whose  womb  came  the 
ice  ?  and  the  hoary  frost  of  heaven,  who  hath  gendered 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  19 

it?"  Job  xxxviii,  4,  22,  29.  Or  again,  in  David, 
"  lie  casteth  forth  his  ice  like  morsels  :  who  can  stand 
before  his  cold  ?  He  sendeth  out  his  word,  and  melt- 
eth  them  :  he  causeth  his  wind  to  blow,  and  the  waters 
flow."  Psa.  cxlrii,  17,  18.  A  Christia,n  has  a  clear 
right  here  to  draw  attention  to  the  fact,  that  his  Holy 
Scriptures  shine  out  with  an  original  and  permanent 
light  and  knowledge,  unshared  and  unapproached  by 
any,  even  the  most  ancient  of  human  compositions. 
The  Yedas,  for  instance,  of  the  land  to  which  we  were 
going,  tliough  the  most  venerable  of  them  all,  has  no 
wide  sweep  of  vision  to  include  such  facts.  They  are 
local  and  limited  in  their  allusions,  and  even  their  ad- 
mirers have  to  admit  their  monotony,  and  their  worth- 
lessness  to  mankind.  Brought  into  contact  with  these 
great  facts  of  nature,  or  science,  or  of  human  ex- 
perience, they  shrink,  like  so  many  owls,  back  to  the 
silence  and  the  darkness  of  tlie  ruins  where  they  have 
dwelt  so  long,  unable  to  endure  the  light  or  the  ques- 
tionings to  which  our  modern  knowledge  and  civiliza- 
tion would  subject  tliem.  But  this  blessed  word  of 
God,  more  venerable  still  than  they,  is  as  fully  adap- 
ted to  the  illumination  and  discoveries  of  the  cent- 
uries after  Christ,  as  it  was  to  the  knowledge  and 
civilization  of  the  centuries  before  him.  From  the 
first  it  boldly  accepted,  in  its  utterances,  all  risks 
of  the  future^  assured  that  no  development  of  nat- 
ure or  man  would  ever  be  able  to  antiquate  its  ut- 
terances.    This  was  a  wonderful  risk  to  assume,  and 


20  Fkom,  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

that,  too,  in  a  world  where  there  was  so  much  change 
inevitable,  and  at  a  time  which  was  merely  the  early 
dawn  of  knowledge.  But  the  Bible  could  afford  to 
do  all  this,  because  it  was  written  with  divine  fore- 
knowledge. To-day,  fairly  interpreted,  it  transcends, 
as  fully  as  it  ever  did,  the  highest  attainments  and 
experiences  of  the  human  race,  and  no  doubt  it  will 
continue  to  march  ahead  of  all  true  development  until 
time  shall  be  no  more. 

Here  is  as  keen  a  test  and  as  critical  an  appeal  to 
facts  as  even  its  foes  might  desire.  The  quotations 
which  I  have  just  given  were  first  spoken  to  men 
more  than  three  thousand  years  ago  on  the  plains  of 
Mesopotamia  or  the  hills  of  Judea — men  who  never 
saw  an  iceberg,  and  never  gazed  upon  even  the  outer 
circle  of  that  awful  Arctic,  whose  interior  secrets  are 
still  only  known  to  Him  who  made  them.  Even  our 
own  hardy  and  inquisitive  race,  with  all  its  appli- 
ances for  discovery  and  endurance,  realizes  keenly 
its  impotence,  and  the  limit  of  its  power  and  knowl- 
edge, in  the  presence  of  these  mysteries.  Again 
and  again  it  has  made  heroic  and  desperate  ef- 
forts to  penetrate  and  explore  them.  Alas!  their 
frozen  bodies  and  deserted  ships  on  its  outer  mar- 
gin are  the  ghastly  evidence  of  its  inability  to  pene- 
trate those  reserved  secrets  of  the  great  God.  Their 
very  failure  is  additional  evidence  of  the  perpet- 
ual truth  of  His  holy  word,  which  thus  still  main- 
tains  its  indisputable   right    to    "hide    pride  from 


FiioM  Boston  to  BxVreilly.  21 

man,"  and  to  cliallenge  his  profound  and  intelligent 
Imniility,  as  lie  stands  in  a  presence  like  this,  and 
reflects  upon  that  unexplored  birthplace  of  these 
mysterious  "  wanderers  of  the  sea."  So  that  an- 
cient revelation,  and  nature's  amazing  manifesta- 
tions, and  the  true  philosophy  which  reverently  con- 
templates both,  combined  to  inculcate  the  duty  of 
adoration  of  that  awful,  but  glorious  Being,  whose 
wisdom  and  resources  are  so  unsearchable  and  past 
finding  out,  that,  in  this  supreme  independence  of  us 
and  of  our  judgments  concerning  him  and  his  ways, 
he  can  afford  to  make  the  visible  operations  and 
forces  of  nature  to  become  merely  "the  hiding  of 
his  power."  We  bow  in  reverence  before  Him  and 
exclaim,  "  Thou  art  the  God  that  doest  wonders : 
thou  hast  declared  thy  strength  among  the  people. 
.  .  .  Thy  way  is  in  tlie  sea,  and  thy  path  in  the  great 
waters,  and  thy  footsteps  are  not  known ! " 

As  the  sun  went  down  we  gladly  parted  company 
with  our  fearful  visitant,  thanking  God  for  our  safety  ; 
but  never  shall  we  forget  the  wonderful  scene  on  which 
we  so  intently  gazed  that  day.  Next  morning,  no 
other  icebergs  being  visible,  and  the  Great  Bank 
having  been  crossed,  our  course  was  altered  more  to 
tlie  north-east,  but  the  chilly  winds  which  soon  poured 
down  from  the  icy  north  made  warmer  clothing  very 
necessary  to  our  comfort. 

On  the  second  Sabbath  the  sea  was  calm  enough 
to  permit  us  to  hold  divine  service.     The  scene  was 


22  Fjrom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

very  interesting.  Part  of  the  congregation  occupied 
the  upper  saloon,  where  the  organ  was,  and  looked 
down,  as  from  a  gallery,  upon  the  preacher  and  the 
rest  of  the  audience  in  the  dining  saloon  below. 
Beautiful  flowers  and  creeping  plants  festooned  the 
sides,  and  ran  across,  and  among  them  hung  the 
cages  of  canary  birds.  The  singing  of  the  hymns 
was  sweet,  and  a  very  gracious  influence  rested  upon 
the  audience.  How  appropriate  were  the  words, 
"  The  sea  is  his,  and  he  made  it :  and  his  hands  formed 
the  dry  land.  O  come,  let  us  worship  and  bow  down : 
let  us  kneel  before  the  Lord  our  maker." 

On  the  evening  of  the  tenth  day  our  gentlemanly 
captain  informed  us  that  before  midnight  we  should 
see  the  first  light  on  the  north-west  coast  of  Ireland, 
and  we  remained  up  to  behold  the  welcome  sight. 
Early  next  morning  we  ran  into  Lough  Foyle,  and 
landed  the  mails  and  passengers  for  Londonderry. 
We  then  coasted  round  the  Giant's  Causeway  and  the 
islands,  entered  the  Clyde,  with  its  historic  scenery, 
and  at  three  P.  M.  reached  Greenock.  As  we  ap- 
proached the  pier,  there  stood  James  Young,  smiling 
his  hearty  welcome  down  upon  us,  the  same  kindly 
face  which,  along  with  that  of  William  Stewart, 
shone  out  its  welcome  at  the  landing-place  at  Cal- 
cutta on  our  arrival  in  India,  September  22,  1856. 
Here  he  was,  twenty-seven  years  later,  to  repeat  the 
same  kindness,  and  conduct  us  to  his  hospitable 
Scottish  home  on  the  other  side  of  this  beautiful  bay. 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  23 

Tliank  God  for  Christian  friendship  I  But  how  good 
and  grateful  we  should  be  to  prove  at  all  worthy 
of  those  loving  attentions  on  both  sides  of  the 
Atlantic ! 

After  a  delightful  visit  to  Helen sburg  and  the 
Scottish  capital,  I  crossed  over  to  Ireland  in  company 
with  my  oldest  clerical  friend,  Rev.  John  Hay,  to 
visit  the  scenes  where  we  began  our  ministry  together 
in  the  centenary  year  of  British  Methodism.  We 
had,  of  course,  a  blessed  time,  full  of  suggestive  and 
grateful  memories.  From  there  I  went  to  Dublin, 
my  native  city,  and  to  the  locality  where  my  religious 
life  began.  I  then  recrossed  the  Irish  Sea  to  Liver- 
pool, and  one  of  the  first  things  I  did  was  to  visit  St. 
John's  market,  to  find  out  the  spot  so  memorable  to  me 
for  what  occurred  there  forty-six  years  before.  Had 
it  not  been  for  that  event  I  should  probably  never 
have  seen  America,  and  this  journey  could  not  have 
occurred.  This,  then,  to  me  is  memorable  ground. 
Hither  my  thoughts  have  frequently  returned,  and 
here  now  the  divine  voice  seemed  to  say,  "  Thou 
shalt  remember  all  the  way  which  the  Lord  thy  God 
[hath]  led  thee  these  forty  years,"  etc. 

In  view  of  its  importance  to  me,  and  in  the  grateful 
duty  to  recognize  the  links  which  have  connected  that 
hour  with  this  in  a  blessed  chain  of  providences,  which 
included  my  becoming  an  American  citizen  and  a 
Metliodist  Episcopal  minister,  and  founder  of  American 
Methodist  missions  in  India  and  Mexico,  I  am  here  led 


2i  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

back  to  review  life  and  its  results,  with  special  refer- 
ence to  these  facts,  then  so  unexpected.  I  trust  my 
readers  will  excuse  me  in  taking  a  few  pages  to 
indulge  these  personal  reminiscences.  God  may  make 
the  record  profitable  to  them,  as  it  certainly  will  be  to 
myself.  It  was  on  this  spot,  one  Sunday  afternoon  in 
August,  1839,  that  I  first  made  an  attempt  to  preach 
the  Gospel.  The  duty  was  performed  with  much  mis- 
giving ;  but  by  His  grace  I  have  been  enabled  to  con- 
tinue proclaiming  his  truth  from  then  till  now.  Per- 
haps I  may  not  be  assuming  too  much  if  I  modestly 
suppose  that  God  had  some  special  work  that  I  could 
do,  and  that,  ''  when  he  called  me  by  his  grace,"  it 
was  with  the  expectation  that  I  should  do  that  work 
for  him.  Yet  without  that  "revelation  of  his  Son  in 
me"  which  took  place  a  few  weeks  before  I  first  stood 
here,  I  should  have  been  both  unfit  and  unwilling  to 
be  led  forth  to  such  a  duty. 

The  reader  will  mark  how,  step  by  step,  my  narrative 
will  lead  me  back  again  to  Boston,  to  find,  there  that 
necessary  providential  development  which  includes  all 
the  justification  for  this  present  joyous  journey,  the 
account  of  which  I  must  now  suspend  for  a  few  pages, 
until  we  are  brought  round  once  more  to  this  city  and 
can  resume  it.  I  ought  to  add  here  that  I  have  but 
seldom  given  in  detail  the  facts  w^hich  I  am  about  to 
narrate,  and  never  before  wrote  them  out.  I  do  so  now 
^t  the  earnest  request  of  some  friends  whose  judgment 
I  have  reason  to  respect,  and  who  wish  to  have  them 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  25 

embodied  in  the  book,  which  they  had  ah'eady  sug- 
gested should  be  the  outcome  of  this  journey.  I 
ought  no  longer  to  have  any  hesitation  in  doing  this, 
as  it  is  now  evident  enough  to  myself  that  these 
facts  show  how  and  why  it  happened  that,  under  the 
divine  guidance  and  calling,  I  became  the  founder  of 
the  mission  in  India.  This  being  so  (as  I  presume 
the  narrative  will  evidence),  the  facts  in  question  are 
no  longer  private  and  personal  to  myself,  they  belong 
to  the  Church  of  God,  whose  servant  I  became,  so 
far  as  she  may  choose  to  be  interested  in  them,  as 
marking  the  hand  of  God  in  the  history  and  agency 
of  her  precious  work  in  Hindustan.  The  narrative 
will  also  teach  a  lesson  on  the  duty  of  personal  effort 
for  the  salvation  of  others,  which  I  trust  God  will 
bless,  and  especially  to  my  lady  readers. 

While  lately  in  Dublin  I  went  to  visit  a  tomb  in  the 
Mount  Jerome  Cemetery.  That  tomb  contains  the 
dust  of  a  saint  who  w^ill  yet  arise  in  glory,  and  whose 
blessed  face  I  shall  see  again  with  joy.  Eleven  miles 
south  of  that  tomb  there  is  a  little  valley,  where  I 
first  saw  that  face.  I  went  once  more  from  the  tomb  to 
that  valley,  on  this  the  last  occasion  when  I  can  hope 
to  visit  it,  and  there  for  a  few  days  I  have  been  living 
my  life  over  again.  Forty- seven  years  ago  my  home 
was  here.  I  was  then  in  my  nineteenth  year,  and 
was  regarded  by  my  friends  as  a  moral  young  man, 
and  considered,  by  myself  at  least,  as  a  Christian.  I 
had  been  from  childhood  connected  with  the  Episco- 


20  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

pal  Cliurcli,  an  attendant  on  its  services  and  Sunday- 
school,  and  diligent  in  all  its  duties,  so  that  I 
"  profited  above  many  "  of  my  class  associates,  and 
bore  off,  because  of  my  superior  knowledge  of  the 
word  of  God,  several  of  the  valuable  premiums  in  the 
yearly  examinations.  1  was  praised  and  encouraged, 
and  became  zealous  for  my  Church.  'No  doubt  of  the 
safety  and  graciousness  of  my  condition  had  ever 
entered  my  mind.  I  was  taught,  and  I  believed  it, 
that  in  baptism  "  I  was  made  a  member  of  Christ,  a 
child  of  God,  and  an  inheritor  of  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  What  more  could  I  need  ?  I  regarded 
myself  as  safe  for  eternity.  Had  any  one  asked  "  a 
reason  of  the  hope  that  was  in  me,"  or  why  I  laid 
this  flattering  unction  to  my  soul  so  confidently,  I 
would  have  appealed  to  the  book  and  replied.  My 
Catechism  tells  me  so ;  I  was  made  all  this  "  in  my 
baptism."  The  bald  Romanism  of  the  statement, 
its  doctrine  of  baptismal  regeneration,  I  was  not 
then  intelligent  enough  to  understand.  Yet  on  this 
unscriptural  dogma  I  was  risking  all  my  future  wel- 
fare. Of  repentance,  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus,  the 
new  birth,  or  the  witness  of  the  Spirit,  I  knew 
nothing,  and  had  never  heard.     Truly 

"A  form  of  godliness  was  mine,. 
The  power  I  never  knew." 

How  trustingly  I  clung  to  the  teaching  of  my 
prayer  book,  and,  no  doubt,  would  have  clung  to  it, 
living  or  dying,  to  the  last,  not  imagining  that  there 


From  Boston  to  Bakkilly.  27 

could  have  been  dangerous  error  in  it.  So,  had 
death  itself  come,  I  was  there  instructed,  in  "The 
Visitation  of  tlie  Sick,"  to  send  for  my  minister  (as- 
suming that  tliere  was  time  to  do  so)  and  make  my 
confession,  and  he — this  mistaken  and  presumptuous 
mortal — would  have  stood  by  my  bedside  and  uttered 
these  awful  words  :  "  Our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  hath  left 
power  to  his  Church  to  absolve  all  sinners— and,  by 
his  authority  committed  to  me,  I  absolve  thee  from 
all  tliy  sins,  in  the  name  of  the  Father,  and  of  the 
Son,  and  of  the  Holy  Ghost ! "  All  this,  according 
to  the  requirement  there,  "I  steadfastly  believed." 
I  knew  no  other  gospel  save  this  diluted  Romanism. 
No  other  was  within  my  reach.  Iso  evangelical  min- 
istry of  any  dissenting  denomination  was  within  a 
dozen  miles  of  my  home. 

I  look  back  upon  these  circumstances  with  most 
painfnl  remembrance,  yet,  I  hope,  with  entire  freedom 
from  denominational  bigotry.  I  was  intensely  loyal 
to  my  Clnirch.  Nothing  short  of  the  most  serious 
consideration  could  have  detached  me  from  her  com- 
munion. Changing  one's  Church  relations  is  seldom 
justified  by  any  thing  less  than  realizing  greater  help 
in  the  religious  life,  or  a  larger  opportunity  of  Chris- 
tian usefulness.  But  I  have  never  doubted  the  course 
I  was  then  led  to  take  in  tliis  matter.  How  conld  I 
do  so  ?  Here  I  was,  like  hundreds  around  me,  sitting 
under  a  State-Church  ministry  which,  year  after  year, 
left  us  unawakened  to  a  sense  of  our  guilt  and  dan- 


28  From  Uoston  to  Bareilly. 

ger,  and  not  only  so,  but  wliich,  as  in  my  own  case, 
when  God,  by  another  agency  and  the  help  of  his 
holy  word,  enabled  me  to  discover  my  state,  actually 
discouraged — I  might  almost  say  persecuted — me,  be- 
cause I  was  trying  to  find  the  light  which  they  had 
never  shed  upon*  me.  They  were  disgusted  that  I 
should  discredit,  by  my  doubts,  "  the  new  birth " 
which  they  said  I  had  received  in  my  baptism,  and 
which,  they  asserted,  was  further  ratified  to  me  when 
the  Bishop  laid  his  hands  upon  my  head  in  "  con- 
firmation." Yet,  when  awakened,  I  was  not  able  to 
find  any  evidence,  save  this  clerical  assertion,  that  any 
such  change  had  ever  passed  upon  me.  But  I  could 
not  afford  to  make  a  mistake  here,  for  eternity  was 
involved.  I  had  begun  to  feel  through  all  my  being 
that  I  ^*  must  be  born  again  " — must  have  "  the  inward 
and  spiritual  grace,"  without  which  "the  outward 
and  visible  sign  "  was  nothing  to  me  but  a  few  drops 
of  water.  Alas  !  I  knew  that  I  had  not  this  regener- 
ation of  the  Holy  Spirit,  for  the  "  grace  "  and  "  the 
fruits"  of  the  Spirit  are  inseparable,  and  I  feared, 
and  soon  came  to  know,  that  these  fruits  were  not  in 
me. 

My  religious  guides  were  as  confused  as  was  Nico- 
demus  when  our  Lord  preached  the  doctrine  of  the 
new  birth  to  him,  and  proved  to  his  conscience  that 
he  was  ignorant  of  it,  though  he  was  "  a  master  in 
Israel."  This  question  is  vital  to  the  ministry  and 
membership  of  every  Church  on  earth.     How  terrible 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  29 

that  men  should  dare  to  enter  the  ministry  of  any 
one  of  tliem  as  a  mere  ^'  profession,"  by  which  to  earn 
a  "respectable"  living!  If  unconverted  themselves, 
how  can  tliey  lead  their  unsaved  hearers  to  salvation? 
while,  as  unconverted,  they  are  certainly  uncalled 
of  God  to  this  holy  office,  no  matter  what  their  other 
qualili cations  may  be.  Yet  these  are  the  men  who, 
in  their  presumption,  I  have  heard  so  often  talk  loft- 
ily of  their  superior,  and,  indeed,  exclusive,  "  holy  or- 
ders," derived  from  their  "  apostolicoJ  succession  " — 
that  miserable  Komish  fable — and  who  could  speak 
contemptuously  of  what  they  were  pleased  to  call 
"  the  unauthorized  ministry"  of  other  men  :  men  who 
had,  nevertheless,  the  divine  seal  upon  their  ministry, 
and  whose  "  proofs  of  apostleship" — and  they  needed 
no  other — were  the  souls  which  they  had  saved  and 
edified,  and  would  yet  present,  as  their  "glory  and 
joy,"  before  the  throne  of  God.  I  had  begun  to  un- 
derstand that  common  sense  concurred  with  Bible 
teaching  on  this  question.  If  a  man  trusts  a  preten- 
tious lawyer,  he  can  only  lose  his  property  if  wrongly 
advised  ;  or,  an  unskillful  physician,  he  risks  only 
health  and  life  ;  but,  if  he  be  guided  by  an  uncon- 
verted clergyman,  he  adventures  his  soul's  eternal 
welfare,  with  the  liability  of  finding  himself  and  this 
"  blind  leader  of  the  blind  "  at  last  "  fallen  together 
into  the  ditch  "  of  hopeless  misery  !  How  carefully 
should  the  Churches  of  God  ffuard  the  door  which 
admits  to  tlieir  ministrv,  and  see  to  it  that,  whatever 


30  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

other  qualification  their  candidates  have  or  have  not, 
thej  shall  have  at  least  the  experimental  piety  which 
will  enable  them  to  guide  poor  awakened  souls  more 
safely  than  I  was  guided  forty-seven  years  ago,  when 
they  so  confidently  cried  "Peace,  peace,''  w^here  God 
had  not  spoken  it.  Had  I  been  left  to  them  I  should 
probably  have  perished  in  my  sins. 

But,  a  compassionate  God  was  preparing  another 
agency  to  undeceive  me,  to  open  iny  eyes,  and  turn 
me  from  darkness  to  light,  that  I  might  receive  for- 
giveness of  my  sins,  and  an  inheritance  among  them 
that  are  sanctified,  all  through  the  instrumentality 
of  that  blessed  woman  from  w^hose  tomb  I  have  just 
returned.  How  heartily  I  may  thank  God  that  she 
herself  had  found  what  she  was  so  soon  to  teach  me. 
But  how  she  was  led  out  of  darkness  similar  to  my 
own  to  that  attainment,  is  an  essential  part  of  this 
narrative,  and  will  illustrate  the  grace  of  God  in  a 
wonderful  manner. 

This  precious  lady  belonged  to  the  upper  circles  of 
society.  Her  husband  had  been  member  of  Parlia- 
ment for  the  University  of  Dublin,  and  was  at  this 
time  one  of  her  majesty's  Judges.  She  was  well  qual- 
ified, by  her  many  accomplishments,  for  adorning  the 
position  which  they  occupied.  She  loved  worldly 
splendor  and  the  gayety  of  fashionable  life,  and  yet 
regarded  herself  as  a  Christian,  and  w^as  very  regular 
in  her  attendance  at  church  and  sacraments.  Being 
fond  of  the  harp,  and  wishing  to  perfect  herself  in 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  31 

its  use,  slie  hired  a  professional  harper  to  instruct 
lier.  Tills  harper  was  a  Welshman,  and  one  of  the  most 
unique  persons  I  ever  saw.  lie  was  very  small  in 
size,  entirely  blind,  dressed  with  scrupulous  neatness 
in  black,  and  wore  a  white  cravat.  His  hair,  as  white 
as  snow,  hung  down  on  his  shoulders,  and  he  looked 
like  what  we  might  suppose  one  of  the  ancient  bards 
to  have  been.  lie  attended  twice  a  week  to  give  the 
lessons.  It  was  a  beautiful  picture  to  see  the  lovely 
little  man,  with  the  harp  towering  above  him,  as  he 
sat  and  discoursed  that  sweet  music ;  and  she  would 
listen,  then  take  her  place  and  submit  herself  to  his 
instruction  and  the  requisite  criticism  upon  her  per- 
formance. 

He  was  a  saintly  man,  but  she  knew  it  not.  He 
had  not  yet  ventured  to  converse  with  her  upon  the 
subject  of  religion,  and  probably  may  have  had  an 
apprehension  that  her  High-Churchism  would  lead  her 
to  resent  any  effort  of  that  kind  as  an  intrusion.  But, 
one  Monday  morning,  when  taking  her  lesson,  she 
paused,  and,  turning  toward  liim,  said,  in  her  own 
rapid  and  impulsive  manner,  "  O,  Mr.  Lewis,  I  heard 
such  a  magnificent  sermon  yesterday  from  Mr.  M. 
It  was  so  grand  !  Whom  did  you  hear,  sir  ?  Where 
did  you  go  ? "  He  paused,  fearing  his  answer  would 
not  please  her  "  Church  "  notions.  She  perceived  his 
hesitation,  and  then  insisted,  in  a  half-earnest,  half- 
playful  manner,  on  being  informed  where  he  went 
and  who  he  heard.     He  saw  "  the  cross"  was  reached 


32  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

and  tliat  he  must  take  it  up.  So,  lifting  his  heart  to 
God  for  help,  lie  quietly  answered,  "  Madam,  I  went 
to  the  Methodist  chapel,  and  heard  a  Methodist 
preacher."  She  broke  out  in  such  a  hearty  peal  of 
laughter,  and  exclaimed,  "  The  idea,  Mr.  Lewis,  that 
you  should  go  among  those  Methodists  !  "  And  then 
she  overflowed  again  with  her  fun  at  his  expense  and 
want  of  judgment  "  to  go  among  those  Methodists  !  " 
Poor  soul,  she  knew  nothing  of  them,  and  thus  only 
expressed  her  prejudice.  But  her  curiosity  was 
awakened,  and  she  urged  him  further,  saying, "  Come, 
now,  Mr.  Lewis,  I  must  insist  on  knowing  why  you 
went  among  such  people,  for  I  understand  that  they 
are  very  fanatical  and  ignorant ! "  Again  lie  lifted 
his  heart  to  God  for  help  and  replied,  "  Madam,  will 
you  listen  patiently  while  I  tell  you  V  "  Certainly," 
she  said  ;  "  I  want  to  know  all  about  it."  He  then 
began  and  told  her  how  he  had  gone  among  these 
people,  and  had  there  heard,  for  the  first  time  in  his 
life,  the  Scripture  doctrine  of  a  conscious  salvation, 
and  how  to  obtain  ''  a  good  hope  through  grace."  As 
he  spoke  the  grateful  tears  flowed  down  his  face,  and 
he  looked  the  joy  which  he  described.  She  did  not 
lose  a  word.  She  could  gaze  into  his  sightless  coun- 
tenance and  note  the  whole  expression,  and,  as  she 
looked  and  listened  to  the  wonderful  story,  her  own 
heart  was  opening  with  deep  feeling  to  tlie  truth. 
She  felt  that  he  was  sincere.  Seeing  the  peace  of 
God    on   his    beautiful    countenance,   she    begnn    to 


From  Boston  to  Barkilly.  33 

realize  that  he  had  found  something  more  in  the 
Christian  religion  than  she  herself  had  ever  known. 
But  when  he  came  to  speak  of  his  joyous  hope  that, 
ere  long,  he  would  be  done  with  the  things  of  earth, 
and  God  would  open  his  eyes — which  had  never 
looked  upon  this  world — to  behold  the  glories  of  eter- 
nity and  to  "  see  the  King  in  his  beauty,"  her  tears 
were  flowing  in  honest  sympathy  with  his  joy.  Be- 
fore he  had  finished  his  simple  narration  of  "what 
God  had  done  for  his  soul,"  she  had  settled  down  into 
the  resolution  that  she  must  kno^v  more  about  these 
despised  "  Methodists,"  and  would  find  out  for  her- 
self if  there  was  reasonable  and  scriptural  justifica- 
tion for  such  confidence  and  such  happiness  as  her 
harper  had  expressed  that  morning.  She  ascertained 
from  him  where  this  Methodist  chapel  was  situated 
(they  then  used  the  word  chapel  for  their  places  of 
worship  in  Ireland)  and  the  hour  of  service,  and,  as 
they  parted,  she  said  a  few  appreciative  words  to  him, 
and  he  knew  that  he  had  not  lost  her  good- will  by 
his  candid  statement  that  forenoon. 

On  Saturday  evening  she  ordered  her  coachman  to 
have  the  carriage  at  the  door  next  morning  in  time. 
It  was  done,  and  when  she  stepped  in  she  surprised 
the  footman  who  attended  her,  by  telling  him  to 
direct  the  coachman  to  drive  her  to  the  Methodist 
chapel  in  Whitefriars  Street.  To  the  amazement  of 
the  frequenters  of  this  place  of  worship  (built  by  Mr. 
Wesley   himself)  the   splendid   equipage,   drawn  by 


34  Fbom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

four  bay  horses,  stopped  at  the  door,  and  the  elegant 
lady  stepped  out,  entered,  and  took  a  seat  in  the 
front  of  the  gallery.  It  is  probable  that  the  preacher 
was  the  Eev.  Gideon  Ouseley  (a  name  famous  in 
Irish  Methodism).  She  had  never  before  seen  a  min- 
ister in  the  pulpit  without  gown  and  bands,  nor  a 
service  conducted  without  the  use  of  the  prayer 
book.  It  was  all  novel  to  her.  But  there  was  a 
heartiness  in  the  service  that  pleased  her,  and  the 
sermon  found  its  way  into  her  soul  and  gave  her  more 
light  than  she  had  before.  She  returned  home  deeply 
impressed,  and  began  to  pray  earnestly  to  God  to  help 
her  to  understand  what  true  religion  was.  The  fol- 
lowing Saturday,  in  giving  her  orders,  she  told  the 
coachman  to  have  tlie  carriage  ready  next  morning, 
but  to  "  leave  off  the  leaders  " — two  horses  would  be 
sufficient  to  take  her.  Her  worldly  pride  was  being 
crucified,  and  she  was  becoming  "  lowly  in  heart." 
This  was  more  evident  a  week  later,  when  she  in- 
formed the  coachman  she  would  not  require  the 
carriage  next  morning.  She  would  walk  to  the  serv- 
ice (as  she  did  ever  after),  but  that  she  wished  him 
to  attend  her,  carrying  her  Bible  and  hymn  book; 
her  object  being  to  bring  him,  also,  under  the  sound  of 
the  GosjDcl. 

She  now  invited  the  Methodist  ministers  to  call 
upon  her,  that  she  might  receive  further  instruction 
and  have  them  pray  with  her,  and  place  in  her  hands 
suitable  books  on  the  subject  of  salvation.     This  was 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  35 

done,  and  she  soon  read  "  William  Carvosso's  Life  " 
and  "  The  Life  and  Letters  of  Hester  Ann  Rogers," 
and  similar  works  on  Christian  experience.  So  faith- 
fullv  did  she  follow  the  instructions  given,  that  she  was 
ere  long  gloriously  converted,  to  the  great  joy  of  her 
dear  old  harper.  But  she  did  not  rest  in  that  where- 
unto  she  had  now  attained.  Like  Miss  Frances 
Bidley  Havergal,  (may  God  increase  the  number  of 
such  Christians  in  that  old  Church !)  she  was  led,  by 
her  earnest  love  of  holiness,  to  inquire  if  there  was 
not  something  more  in  Christianity  for  her  to  receive, 
beyond  the  blessings  that  came  to  her  in  this  "  new 
birth  ? "  She  rejoiced  to  be  assured  that  there  was  a 
higher  life,  a  perfect  love,  a  state  of  entire  sanctifica- 
tion  into  which  it  was  now  her  blessed  privilege  to 
enter,  and  be  "  saved  to  the  uttermost."  With  be- 
coming earnestness  she  sought  this  "  second  blessing," 
and  soon  entered  upon  its  enjoyment.  Henceforth 
her  life  became  one  of  the  most  lovely  patterns  of 
"  the  beauty  of  holiness."  And  now,  to  lead  others 
to  the  attainment  of  what  she  had  herself  found, 
became  her  daily  effort  and  her  greatest  joy.  Her 
first  desire  was  for  her  husband's  salvation,  and  he, 
seeing  what  divine  grace  had  done  for  her,  submitted 
himself  to  her  guidance,  and  sought  the  Lord  on  his 
own  behalf,  and  a  few  weeks  after  they  were  rejoic- 
ing as  "heirs  together  of  the  grace  of  life."  He 
became  a  true  Cliristian;  a  family  altar  was  estab- 
lished in  that  household  and  kept  up  to  the  close  of 


36  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

life.  All  tlie  influence  of  his  position  was  thrown 
henceforth  on  the  side  of  evangelical  religion  and  the 
moral  reforms  of  that  day,  including  the  temperance 
cause.  Then  her  friends  and  her  servants  became 
objects  of  her  solicitude,  with  gracious  results  in 
many  instances. 

Such  was  the  help  that  God  was  so  soon  to  send 
to  me.  Shortly  after  these  events,  and  with  special 
references  to  her  delicate  health,  her  husband  pur- 
chased a  beautiful  country  home  near  where  I  lived, 
and  there  she  continued  her  efforts  to  do  good.  Soon 
after  their  arrival  one  of  my  young  friends  said  to  me, 
"St.  Yalori  House  has  been  purchased  by  one  of  the 
Judges,  and  his  wife  is  a  great  Methodist.  She  is  in 
the  habit  of  walking  out  every  morning,  and  takes 
tracts  w^ith  her,  and  talks  to  people  whom  she  meets 
about  religion."  This  was  the  first  time  that  I  had 
even  heard  the  word  "Methodist,"  and  asked  my 
friend  what  it  meant?  He  sneeringly  replied, 
"  Why,  a  Methodist  is  one  who  actually  believes  they 
can  know  their  sins  forgiven  and  be  assured  of  the 
favor  of  God ! "  He  uttered  this  sarcastically,  to 
show  how  fanatical  such  people  must  be ;  but  his 
words  took  a  singular  hold  on  my  heart,  and  led  me 
to  reflect  much  upon  them  during  the  day.  I  knew 
they  did  not  describe  my  condition,  and  I  wondered 
whether  they  truly  described  the  condition  of  any  one 
in  this  world,  these  Methodists  or  any  one  else  ? 
But  there  was  a  rebound,  and  my  religious  pride  w^as 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  37 

alarmed.  I  found  myself  sincerely  hoping  that  I 
should  not  fall  into  lier  hands  or  be  talked  to  by  her. 
I  did  not  wish  to  be  disturbed  as  to  my  religious 
condition.  On  inquiring  as  to  her  appearance,  she 
was  represented  to  me  as  tall,  refined,  and  delicate 
lookino".  It  was  sina^ular  how  uncomfortable  I  be- 
came  by  the  presence  of  this  "  Methodist "  in  our 
neighborhood,  and  how  much  I  began  to  fear  that  I 
might  come  in  contact  with  her,  and  that  she  might 
talk  to  me  about  my  religious  state. 

It  was  only  a  few  mornings  after  this  conversation 
that  I  rose  earlier  than  usual  to  attend  to  some  busi- 
ness, and  going  along  the  road  near  St.  Yalori,  I  saw 
her  coming  toward  me,  attended  by  her  maid.  From 
the  description  I  felt  assured  this  must  be  the  lady  ! 
I  at  once  slackened  my  pace  in  order  to  get  time  to 
decide  what  I  should  do  to  escape.  The  wall  on  either 
side  of  the  road  was  over  six  feet  high,  and  I  could 
not  jump  over.  It  looked  cowardly  to  turn  back  and 
escape  by  walking  away  from  her,  so  I  concluded  to 
take  the  alternative  which  remained,  that,  as  the  side- 
walk was  fully  ^VG  feet  wide,  I  would,  as  we  ap- 
proached each  other,  step  to  the  very  outside  limit 
and  leave  her  a  wide  berth  to  pass  on.  Quickening 
my  steps,  to  carry  out  my  purpose,  as  I  came  near  I 
saw,  to  my  confusion,  that  she  did  not  intend  to  move 
off  to  the  inside,  but  was  going  to  stop  in  the 
center  of  the  path,  and  so  gently  bar  my  way  I  She 
afterward    told  me,  that  before  I  reached  her,  the 


38  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

Spirit  of  God  seemed  to  say  to  her  heart,  "  Speak  to 
this  young  man."  So,  as  she  stopped,  I  had  no  alter- 
native but  to  do  the  same,  and  then  I  ventured  to  lift 
my  eyes  and  look  at  her.  How  amazed  1  was,  and 
ashamed  as  well,  that  I  should  have  imagined  her 
— "this  Methodist" — something  of  a  horror,  to  be 
afraid  of  on  meeting !  How  sweet  her  face  was,  and 
such  a  smile!  She  could  not  but  see  that  I  was 
alarmed  at  her  presence,  and  that  I  looked  rather 
wild.  But  she  spoke,  and  said  in  such  a  gentle  way, 
and  in  tones  that  I  shall  never  forget,  "  Good-morn- 
ing, young  man ;  may  I  say  a  few  words  to  you  ? " 
My  trepidation  at  once  calmed  down,  and  I  looked 
again  at  that  saintly  face,  and  answered,  "Yes, 
madam,  you  may  say  whatever  you  wish."  She  saw 
that  she  had  gained  her  first  point,  and  stepped  nearer, 
till  she  could  touch  my  sleeve  with  that  white  hand, 
so  thin  and  wasted  by  the  incipient  consumption 
which  four  years  after  was  to  lay  her  in  the  grave. 

She  then  said,  "  I  want  to  ask  you  this  question. 
Do  you  pray  ? "  Had»she  asked  me.  Do  you  say  your 
prayers?  I  could  have  answered  with  great  confi- 
dence. But  she  did  not  say  or  mean  that,  though 
herself  an  Episcopalian,  and  well  acquainted  with  the 
prayer  book.  I  had  never  offered  an  extempore 
prayer — could  not  have  done  it.  My  heart  had  not 
learned  to  utter  its  own  cry  to  God  according  to  its 
own  feelings.  I  had  only  repeated  the  language  of 
other  people,  whether  it  fully  expressed  my  own  con- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  39 

dition  or  not.  It  was  wonderful  what  clearness  there 
was  in  her  question,  how  the  Spirit  of  God  carried 
her  meaning  into  my  mind.  Each  sentence  that 
she  liad  uttered  had  that  unction  which  accompanies 
the  words  of  one  who  lives  in  close  communion  with 
God.  So,  though  in  such  darkness,  I  saw  at  once 
what  she  meant  when  she  asked  me  if  I  prayed. 
Being  too  manly  to  tell  a  falsehood,  I  promptly  an- 
swered, "  No,  madam,  I  do  not."  She  drew  a  deep 
sigh,  and  tlien  said,  "  Well,  if  you  don't  pray,  what 
is  to  hecoine  of  your  soul  f  "  Up  to  that  hour  I  had 
supposed  that  my  soul  was  all  right,  that  I  was  safe 
for  eternity.  But  her  question  went  through  ray 
heart,  and  woke  me  up  to  a  suspicion,  which  imme- 
diately became  a  consciousness,  that  I  was  unsaved, 
that  my  soul  was  in  danger!  Her  tender  words  had 
"  opened  my  eyes" — my  ecclesiastical  salvation  van- 
ished as  in  a  moment,  and  I  saw  myself,  in  the  sight 
of  God,  a  sinner,  guilty  and  polluted, 

"  Faded  my  drtiious  show, 

My  form  without  the  power, 
The  sin-convincing  Spirit  blew, 

And  blasted  every  flower." 

What  a  revelation  that  hour  brought  to  me !  I  had 
nothing  to  say :  I  hung  my  head  and  was  silent. 

She  saw  how  God  was  helping  her,  and  touched 
my  arm  again.  How  glad  I  am  that  she  touched  me ! 
Tlie  Lord  Jesus  touched  those  he  would  bless.  "  Such 
words  and  touches  live" — there  was  sympathy  and 


40  From  Boston  to  Bareilly, 

personal  appeal  in  it,  no  formality  or  aristocratic 
bearing.  How  kindly  and  tenderly  she  touched  me, 
as  she  said,  "  Now  listen  to  me ! "  She  talked,  per- 
haps, less  than  fifteen  minutes,  of  repentance,  what 
it  was  to  be  born  again,  to  have  the  witness  of  the 
Spirit  and  real  Christianity  in  tlie  soul.  When  she 
ceased  I  had  learned  more  about  true  religion  than  I 
had  gained  from  all  the  sermons  I  had  ever  heard, 
for  I  had  been  taught — wliat  I  least  of  all  expected  to 
know — that  I  was,  indeed,  a  sinner,  needing  a  change 
of  heart,  and  must  be  converted  or  perish ;  but  I 
learned,  too,  thank  God,  how  I  might  be  saved !  The 
Holy  Spirit  sealed  every  word  upon  my  conscience, 
and  I  became  so  submissive  to  the  guidance  of  God 
through  her,  that  it  seemed  as  though  a  thread  would 
have  led  me  anywhere  to  seek  salvation.  She  closed 
the  interview,  earnestly  exhorting  me  not  to  lose  an 
hour  in  carrying  out  my  resolution  to  seek  the  Lord, 
and  made  me  promise  to  call  upon  her  that  evening, 
and  then  used  these  words  :  "  Young  man,  God  is  not 
only  able  and  willing  to  save  your  soul,  but  he  is  also 
willing  to  make  you  the  means  of  the  salvation  of 
other  people."  These  words  startled  me.  Realizing, 
as  I  then  did,  the  depth  of  my  own  unworthiness,  I 
could  not  imagine  that  God  would  add  personal  use- 
fulness in  my  case  to  personal  salvation.  Perhaps  it 
ministers  to  her  joy  to-day  to  know  that  her  expecta- 
tion was  not  disappointed. 

We  parted,  but  I  was  so  determined  to  lose  no  time 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  41 

in  seeking  tlie  Lord,  that  I  let  the  worldly  business 
go  for  that  morning,  and  walked  on  to  where  I  knew 
there  was  a  gate  leading  into  the  field,  and  there  I 
entered,  and  behind  that  wall  dropped  on  my  knees, 
and  pleaded  with  God  for  mercy.  The  blessed  Spirit 
was  helping  me,  and  I  found  words  to  express  myself. 
Then  and  there  I  gave  myself  to  Christ  as  Saviour 
and  Lord  forever,  and  implored  God  to  make  me 
such  a  Christian  as  this  lady  had  taught  me  I  must 
become  in  order  to  be  saved.  That  evening  I  called 
upon  her,  and  she  further  instructed  and  prayed 
with  me.  She  also  put  into  my  hands  the  same 
precious  books  that  had  helped  herself — Carvosso's 
Life  and  Mrs.  Eogers's  Life — telling  me  to  read 
th^m  daily,  along  with  my  Bible,  and  keep  on  pray- 
ing earnestly  until  I  felt  that  the  Lord  had  converted 
my  soul. 

But  I  had  a  hard  conflict,  and  a  long  time  elapsed 
ere  I  entered  into  the  light  and  joy  of  salvation.  My 
dear  friend  was  my  only  helper.  No  Methodistic  or 
other  evangelical  ministry  was  within  my  reach,  nor 
any  of  our  precious  means  of  grace.  I  was  "in  a  dry 
and  thirsty  land."  The  wicked  scoffed  at  me,  and 
some,  from  whom  better  things  might  have  been  ex- 
pected, pointed  the  finger  of  scorn  at  "this  new 
Methodist."  But  I  held  on,  though  without  any 
comfort  or  joy,  resolved  not  to  give  up  seeking,  let 
them  persecute  as  they  might.  My  convictions  of  sin 
were  very  keen.    Often  I  could  neither  eat  nor  drink, 


42  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

nor  even  sleep.  Sometimes  I  was  so  distressed  that 
I  would  rise  at  midnight  and  walk  the  fields,  and  look 
up  at  the  stars,  and  cry  out  to  God  above  them  to 
come  down  to  my  help  and  grant  me  mercy.  Satan 
was  doing  all  he  could  to  buflTet  and  discourage  me, 
so  that  frequently  I  ahnost  despaired  of  salvation.  In 
this  weak  and  agonized  condition  a  new  difficulty  was 
added  to  my  burden.  I  visited  a  person  connected 
with  the  "Plymouth  Brethren" — an  Antinomian  and 
Calvinistic  community — who  urged  me  to  give  up 
this  worry  and  anxiety  about  my  soul,  on  the  ground 
that,  "  if  you  are  elected  to  be  saved,  God  will  in  his 
own  good  time  gather  you  in ;  being  complete  in 
Christ,  why  distress  yourself  thus  ? "  Had  I  yielded 
to  this  seductive  teaching,  I  should  have  lost  my 
convictions  and  cried  "peace"  when  God  had  not 
spqken  it,  and  so,  perhaps,  added  one  more  to  the 
list  of  those  "goodly  formal  saints"  whom  I  there 
heard  talk  so  smoothly  of  "the  finished  work  of 
Jesus"  and  "imputed  righteousness,"  but  whose 
censorious  spirit  toward  those  "who  followed  not 
with  them,"  evidenced  plainly  enough,  even  to  one 
as  feeble  as  myself,  how  easily  a  man  could  become 
a  Christian  in  their  sense,  and  yet  remain  destitute 
of  "the  meekness  and  gentleness  of  Jesus  Christ."  I 
had  light  enough  to  see  the  danger,  and  cried  to  God 
to  save  me  from  this  self-deception,  and  not  allow 
me  to  rest  in  any  thing  but  the  atonement  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  divine  purpose  of  it  in  my  heart.     I 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  43 

returned  home,  but  realized  soon  that  I  had  been 
wounded — an  envenomed  arrow  had  pierced  me,  and 
it  was  rankling  keenly.  That  terrible  doctrine  of  an 
unconditional  election  and  its  counterpart,  had  been 
insinuated  into  my  soul.  I  thought  and  reasoned 
over  those  words,  "  If  I  was  elected  to  be  saved,"  and 
sliuddered  as  I  reflected  on  the  other  side  of  that  doc- 
trine. I  searched  for  reasons  to  enable  me  to  believe 
that  I  was  one  of  the  elect,  and,  therefore,  my  safety 
was  assured,  but  could  not  find  tliem ;  while,  my  very 
anguish  of  soul  and  the  length  of  time  that  I  had  now 
struggled  to  find  peace  with  God,  seemed  to  prove 
that  I  was,  instead,  one  of  the  non-elect,  and  would 
as  surely  be  lost  at  last !  Had  I  gone  and  disclosed 
this  new  sorrow  to  my  beloved  friend,  she  might 
have  helped  me  out  of  it,  but  I  began  to  fear  that 
I  was  giving  her  too  much  trouble,  and  that  my 
delay  in  finding  mercy  was  becoming  discouraging 
to  her.  What  long  and  weary  months  of  dis- 
traction and  mental  pain  I  passed  through  ere  relief 
came ! 

Winter  arrived,  and  my  friend  returned  to  the  city 
of  Dublin,  and  I  was  left  alone  to  wrestle  with  all 
these  difficulties.  But  after  a  while  I  followed  her 
to  the  city,  and  on  the  ensuing  Sabbath  morning  I 
accompanied  her  to  the  Methodist  cliapel,  the  first 
non-conformist  service  I  had  ever  attended.  How 
simple  and  apostolic  it  all  appeared!  The  hearty 
singing,   the    extempore    prayers,   the    experimental 


44  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

l^reacliing  (preaclied,  not  read),  all  delighted  nie. 
My  confidence  was  won.  I  felt  that  I  had  found, 
here  the  very  help  my  poor  discouraged  soul  required, 
and  it  was  easy  to  conclude  at  once,  as  I  did,  that 
these  people  should  be  my  people  for  the  rest  of 
my  life. 

Here  I  first  saw  that  dear  old  harper.  I  happened 
to  sit  where  I  had  a  good  view  of  him.  It  was  then 
the  custom  in  Methodist  services  to  ''line  the  hymns," 
that  is,  the  preacher  gave  out  two  lines,  and  when  the 
congregation  had  sung  them  the  next  two  were  given. 
Every  one  sang,  including  the  harper.  His  quick  ear 
could  catch  the  words  his  eyes  had  never  seen,  and  it 
was  inspiring  to  behold  his  glowing  and  beautiful 
countenance  as  he  sang  so  joyously.  On  this  occasion 
it  happened  that  the  hymn  was  the  first  in  the  collec- 
tion, "  O  for  a  thousand  tongues,  to  sing,"  etc.  The 
outburst  of  holy  praise  rose  in  ardor  as  the  hymn 
proceeded ;  but  when  we  came  to  the  last  verse, 

"  Hear  him,  ye  deaf ;  his  praise,  ye  dumb, 
Your  loosened  tongues  employ ; " 

I  turned  to  see  the  effect  of  the  next  two  lines  on  this 
man,  who,  of  all  in  that  adoring  assembly,  could  best 
appreciate  them.     The  preacher  gave  out  the  words, 

"  Ye  blind,  behold  your  Saviour  come ; 
And  leap,  ye  lame,  for  joy." 

The  old  harper  was  thrilled  ;  the  effect  on  his  feel- 
ings  was  almost    overwhelming.      His   face    shone. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  45 

the  tears  rolled  down  his  cheeks,  and  the  sightless 
eyeballs  were  lifted  up  in  adoration  of  the  Saviour  he 
seemed  then  and  there  to  "  behold." 

Numbers  of  the  congregation  were  looking  at  him, 
and  their  tears  were  flowing  in  sympathy  with  his 
ecstasy  of  joy.  We  all  seemed  to  realize  that,  blind 
as  he  was,  he  was  beholding  more  than  any  of  us 
were  favored  to  see.  O,  thank  God !  there  are  reve- 
lations in  spiritual  religion  which  the  world  knows 
not,  and  of  which  mere  formal  Christians  are  not 
aware,  when 

"  Faith  lends  its  realizing  light; 

The  clouds  disperse,  the  shadows  fly; 
The  Invisible  appears  in  sight, 

And  God  is  seen  by  mortal  eye." 

That  radiant  face  was  realizing  its  full  significance, 
as  he  sang  and  "  saw  God,"  and  exhibited  the  effects 
of  that  adoring  humility  in  which  i^elf  sinks  out  of 
sight,  and  the  Lord  Jesus  becomes  "all  in  all"  to 
the  enraptured  saint.  Here,  truly,  was  explained 
and  illustrated  the  full  significance  of  Charles  Wes- 
ley's words : 

"  Open  my  faith's  interior  eye: 

Display  thy  glory  from  above ; 
And  all  I  am  shall  sink  and  die, 

Lost  in  astonishment  and  love." 

The  memory  of  that  blessed  Sabbath  remains  with 
me  to  this  hour.  I  joined  a  class,  and  entered  at 
once  with  avidity  into  the  enjoyment  of  the  means 
of  grace  possessed  by  tliose  people.     I  was  no  longer 


46  Fbom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

alone,  witliout  sjmpatlij  or  assistance,  but  was  helped, 
especially  bj  hearing  the  experience  of  others. 

One  Sunday  afternoon,  while  in  a  meeting  for 
Christian  fellowship,  held  in  the  vestry  of  Hendrick 
Street  chapel,  I  was  enabled  to  rest  on  Christ  as  my  per- 
sonal Redeemer.  All  the  burden  rolled  off  my  heart, 
and  I  felt  and  knew  that  I  was  saved !  I  rose  to 
my  feet  and  at  once  acknowledged  what  the  Lord 
liad  done  for  my  soul,  and  those  present  rejoiced 
with  me. 

My  precious  friend  was  made  happy,  and  praised 
God  on  my  behalf.  She  now  urged  upon  me  the  duty 
of  mental  culture,  and  advised  the  keeping  a  journal 
of  my  experience  and  humble  efforts  to  do  good. 
But,  above  all,  she  counseled  the  devout  and  regular 
perusal  of  the  word  of  God,  with  special  reference  to 
the  attainment  of  that  further  state  of  grace  to  which, 
as  a  child  of  God,  I  had  now  become  entitled.  I  was 
consequently  led  to  join  one  of  those  little  bands 
which  met  to  pray  for  this  blessing  of  purity  of  heart, 
that  "  perfect  love  which  casteth  out  fear.''  To  be 
sanctified  throughout  body,  soul,  and  spirit,  now  be- 
came my  intense  desire.  I  longed  to  be  saved  "  to 
the  uttermost,"  and  to  know  for  myself  what  it  was 
to  "  walk  in  the  light,  as  He  is  in  the  light,"  and  expe- 
rience that  "  the  blood  of  Jesus  Christ  his  Son  cleans- 
etli  from  all  sin."  I  did  not  trouble  myself  about  defi- 
nitions of  the  doctrine,  the  experience  of  which  I  was 
seeking,  no  more  than  I  did  a  few  weeks  before,  when 


Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  47 

God  granted  me  the  blessing  of  justification.  I  simply 
accepted  the  words  above  quoted  in  their  manifest 
meaning,  and  entreated  the  Holy  Spirit  to  grant  me, 
in  his  own  way  and  manner,  what  they  implied.  Mr. 
Wesley's  sermon  on  "  The  Hepentance  of  Believers," 
and  his  "Plain  Account  of  Christian  Perfection,"  and 
also  Mr.  Fletcher's  treatise,  greatly  helped  me ;  so  that 
I  had  an  intelligent  apprehension  of  what  I  required, 
and  what  the  word  of  God  offered  to  my  hope.  With 
all  sincerity  and  strong  desire  I  sought  it  daily,  I 
might  say,  hourly.  At  one  of  our  little  meetings  a 
peculiar  spirit  of  earnestness  for  the  blessing  sought 
became  manifest.  We  were  kneeling  round  the 
center  table  in  the  parlor,  and  one  after  the  other 
prnyed,  and  some  one  suggested  that  we  should  sing, 
as  we  knelt,  and  with  all  the  faith  we  had,  these  two 
verses : 

"  0  that  it  now  from  heaven  might  fall, 

And  all  my  sins  consume  ! 
Come,  Holy  Ghost,  for  thee  I  call ; 

Spirit  of  burning,  come  I 

"Refining  fire,  go  through  my  heart; 

Illuminate  my  soul ; 
Scatter  thy  life  through  every  part, 

And  sanctify  the  whole." 

As  the  singing  closed  all  became  conscious  of  the 
surrounding  presence  of  the  holy  Sanctifier,  whom 
we  had  invoked.  I  can  describe  my  own  feelings 
very  imperfectly,  for  this  was  something  beyond  what 
I  had  ever  known  before.     It  seemed  to  be  light  and 


48  Fbom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

life  and  love  combined,  so  sweetly,  and  in  such  an 
indescribable  manner,  resulting  in 

"  The  speechless  awe  that  dares  not  move 
And  all  the  silent  heaven  of  love." 

Christ  had  become,  beyond  all  former  experience, 
every  thing  to  me,  while  I  seemed  to  sink  at  his 
blessed  feet,  "  lost  in  astonishment  and  love."  Those, 
in  any  denomination,  who  have  sought  and  found  this 
grace,  will  understand  what  I  am  trying  to  narrate 
better  than  I  am  able  to  describe  it. 

The  effect  upon  me  was  clear.  I  had  henceforth 
more  delight  in  devotion,  closer  intimacy  with  God, 
greater  stability  of  heai*t  and  character,  and  more 
deadness  to  the  world.  I  was  conscious  of  an  increase 
of  calmly  fervent  zeal  to  lay  out  my  life  to  do  any 
thing  that  my  blessed  Master  might  require  of  me. 
Perfect  peace — "the  peace  of  God  that  passeth  all 
understanding  " — kept  my  heart  and  mind  from  day  to 
day.  I  was  free  from  excitement,  from  fluctuation, 
and  from  all  fear,  resting  sweetly  in  the  calm  sunshine 
of  the  'New  Testament  salvation,  and  living  "  a  life 
of  faith  in  the  Son  of  God,"  who,  I  knew,  loved  me 
and  had  given  himself  for  me. 

"  0,  days  of  heaven, 

And  nights  of  equal  praise  1 " 

Sometime  after  this  the  Rev.  Dr.  Durbin,  president 
of  Dickinson  College  in  America,  then  on  a  tour  in 
Europe,  came  to  Dublin,  and  was  announced  to  preach 


FuoM  Boston  to  Bareilly.  49 

in  Abbey  Street  cliapel.  I  went  to  hear  him.  The 
audience  was  very  large  and  deeply  interested.  His 
sermon  was  to  me  a  memorable  one.  The  text  was,  "A 
bruised  reed  shall  he  not  break,  and  the  smoking  flax 
shall  he  not  quench."  Those  were  the  days  of  candles 
in  the  pulpit,  and,  in  illustration  of  his  theme  of  the 
divine  tenderness  toward  every  penitent  soul,  he  lifted 
the  snuffers  and  took  off  the  superfluous  wick,  then, 
after  a  moment's  pause,  he  opened  the  snuffers,  and  a 
tiny  puff  of  smoke  rose  up  out  of  the  holder,  and  he 
stretched  it  out  toward  the  audience,  and  proceeded 
to  show  that  a  feeling  in  the  human  soul  as 
w^eak  even  as  that  "  smoking  flax "  need  not  be  dis- 
couraged, for  God  would  "  not  quench  it."  He  car- 
ried out  and  illustrated  the  doctrine  of  the  divine 
mercy  to  mankind,  and  showed  that  willful  refusal  of 
his  grace,  and  that  alone,  could  cause  the  final  rejec- 
tion of  any  human  soul.  In  the  light  of  this  sermon 
that  ghastly  creed  of  an  arbitrary  reprobation  of  men 
as  men  —  that  "horrible  decree,"  which  had  hung 
over  my  mind  like  a  cloud — vanished  away  forever. 
How  gloriously  this  Arminian  theology  sounded  in 
my  ears,  and  corresponded  with  all  the  joyous  ex- 
perience of  my  heart !  I  blessed  God  for  the  conso- 
lation, and  felt  that  this  service  had  become  to  me 
one  of  the  highest  inspirations  of  my  life. 

What  glorious  perfections  of  the  divine  nature  om- 
niscience and  foreknowledge  must  be  !    There,  in  that 

evening  service,  where  His  gracious  j)rescnce  was  so 
4 


50  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

manifest,  tlie  future  lay  before  the  eje  ef  God  in  one 
unlimited  outlook,  so  that  he  could  "  call  those  things 
which  are  not  as  though  they  were."  He  saw  the 
preacher  become  missionary  secretary,  and  the  un- 
known listener  a  founder  of  missions,  both  brought 
together  in  co-operation,  and  the  India  and  Mexico 
missions  tlie  result. 

So  far  as  I  was  concerned  a  new  and  special  interest 
for  the  great  country  which  Dr.  Durbin  represented, 
sprang  up  in  my  mind.  But  how  far  I  was  from 
imagining  that  evening,  as  I  sat  and  listened  to  him 
with  such  delight,  in  what  interesting  relations  he 
and  I  were  yet  to  stand  to  each  other.  How,  from 
the  very  hand  which  held  forth  that  humble  illustra- 
tion, I  was  to  receive,  in  another  pulpit,  and  beyond 
the  Atlantic,  that  letter  of  instructions — that  com- 
mission and  an  American  passport — under  which  I 
became  the  chosen  representative  of  his  Church,  and 
the  founder  of  that  work  in  India  on  which  his  heart 
was  so  long  set,  and  to  which  some  of  his  grandest 
eloquence  became  so  consecrated  to  the  close  of  his 
public  life  1 


Feom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  51 


CHAPTER  II. 

"  Unto  me,  who  am  less  than  the  least  of  all  saints,  is  this  grace 
given,  that  I  slionld  preach  among  the  Gentiles  the  unsearchable 
riches  of  Christ." — St.  Paul. 

The  celebration  of  the  centenary  of  "Weslejan  Meth- 
odism awakened  in  my  heart  deep  gratitude  to  the 
Author  of  all  good  for  every  thing  which  that  event 
implied.  I  was  led  to  cross  over  to  Liverpool  to 
be  present  ou  the  occasion  w^hen  the  Kev.  Thomas 
Jackson,  the  president  of  the  British  Conference, 
preached  the  official  centennial  sermon  required  by 
the  Conference  of  1839.  The  text  was  from  1  Cor. 
i,  26,  "  For  ye  see  your  calling,  brethren,"  etc.  It 
was  to  me  an  occasion  of  great  spiritual  profit,  and 
gave  me  an  enlarged  appreciation  of  the  work  of  God 
being  accomplished  throughout  the  world  through 
the  instrumentality  of  the  Church  with  which  I  had 
become  connected.  But  God  had  led  me  to  Liverpool 
for  higher  purposes  than  mere  religious  enjoyment 
and  contemplation.  A  new  and  peculiar  class  of 
thoughts  and  feelings  were  beginning  to  assert  them- 
selves over  my  heart  and  the  purposes  of  my  life. 
But  1  knew  not  their  significance,  and  dreamed  not 
where  and  how  far  they  were  going  to  lead  me. 
I  had  been  brought  into  pleasant  acquaintance  with 


52  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

a  godly  man,  a  local  preacher,  and,  without  my  know- 
ing it,  he  was  closely  watching  the  manifestations  of 
my  experience.  When  the  Sabbath  morning  arrived 
it  was  his  turn  to  preach  in  the  open  air  at  St.  John's 
Market.  I  gladly  accompanied  him  to  aid  in  singing, 
as  well  as  to  see,  what  I  had  not  witnessed  before,  an 
open-air  service.  I  greatly  enjoyed  the  opportunity. 
But  what  was  my  amazement  to  hear  him,  as  he  closed 
the  service,  announce  to  the  crowd,  "  Friends,  I  want 
to  give  notice  that  this  afternoon,  at  three  o'clock, 
"William  Butler,  of  Dublin,  will  preach  here.  Come 
and  hear  him  ! "  I  was  so  surprised  that  my  speech 
seemed  to  leave  me,  and  it  was  some  time  before  I 
could  say  any  thing.  When  I  recovered  myself  the 
crowd  had  departed,  and  he  and  I  were  almost  alone. 
I  asked  the  good  man  why  he  had  made  the  announce- 
ment. I  expostulated,  pointed  out  that  I  had  but  late- 
ly experienced  religion,  had  no  training,  was  only  a 
youth,  never  had  preached,  and  never  expected  to  do 
so.  The  easy  way  in  which  he  bore  all  my  expostula- 
tion amazed  me  still  further.  He  seemed  to  have  no 
sympathy  for  my  distress,  but  he  quietly  rephed,  "  My 
brother,  you  must  preach  the  Gospel,  or  you  will  lose 
your  religion."  In  my  simplicity,  then,  I  supposed 
whatever  a  good  man  said  was  not  to  be  questioned  ; 
nor  did  it  occur  to  me  that  he  might  be  mistaken. 
So  I  felt  entirely  bewildered.  It  seemed  that  I  had 
to  do  this  thing  or  "  lose  my  religion."  We  walked 
home  in  silence.     It  grew  awfully  solemn  the  more  I 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  53 

thought  about  it.  Some  three  hours  before  the  time 
for  the  service  my  friend  handed  me  the  Bible  and 
hymn  book,  and  told  me  to  retire  to  my  bedroom  and 
ask  God  to  give  me  a  text,  and  then  study  it,  and  that 
he  would  call  me  when  it  was  time  to  go. 

Entering  the  room,  I  threw  myself  on  my  knees 
and  tried  to  pray,  but  my  great  anxiety  seemed  to 
frighten  away  every  text  from  my  remembrance.  I 
could  not  fasten  on  any.  The  distress  increased  as 
the  hour  drew  on.  At  length  the  words,  "  Ye  must 
be  born  again,"  seemed  to  shine  out  of  the  darkness, 
and  I  thought,  "  Well,  I  know  what  that  is,  and  can 
tell  them  something  about  it,  and  then  spend  the  rest 
of  the  time  persuading  them  to  seek  it."  I  had  caught 
hold  of  my  two  simple  divisions.  Just  then  my  friend 
knocked  ;  it  was  time  to  go.  How  solemn  that  walk 
was  !  "  The  burden  of  the  Lord  "  had  been  laid  on 
my  shoulders,  and  it  was  very  heavy.  But,  sooner 
than  ''  lose  my  religion,"  I  would  bear  it ;  and  then,  I 
reflected,  it  would  only  be  for  that  once.  The  con- 
gregation were  already  assembled  around  the  steps, 
and  I  went  up,  knowing  I  could  at  least  give  oat  the 
hymn  and  offer  prayer,  and  then  read  a  chapter. 
Whether  I  could  go  any  further  time  alone  could  tell. 
The  second  singing  was  ending,  and  the  next  thing 
the  people  would  expect  to  hear  would  be  the  text. 
My  poor  heart  beat  fast  and  I  cried  to  God  for  help. 
At  length  the  text  was  uttered,  "  Ye  must  be  born 
again."     I  saw  there  was  only  one  way  for  me.     If  I 


54  FiiOM  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

looked  into  the  faces  of  the  congregation  I  should,  in 
my  timidity,  surely  become  confused,  and  have  to  sit 
down  in  silence ;  so  I  immediately  closed  my  eyes, 
and  dared  not  open  them  again  until  my  poor  little 
sermon  was  ended.  In  a  few  minutes,  as  I  was  telling 
them  what  God  had  done  for  me  when  I  was  "  born 
again,"  a  person  on  the  right  hand  said,  "  Amen ! " 
How  that  helped  me !  I  felt  that  some  one  was  being 
beneiited.  Well,  I  concluded  at  last,  and  then  vent- 
ured to  open  my  eyes.  I  prayed,  and  the  audience 
was  dismissed.     The  dreadful  ordeal  was  over  ! 

On  our  way  home  I  timidly  said  to  my  friend,  "  I 
have  done  what  you  laid  on  me,  but,  of  course,  that 
is  the  end  of  the  matter.  I  shall  never  make  another 
effort  of  the  kind."  He  quietly  smiled  and  said 
nothing.  How  I  did  wish  he  would  say  that  he 
would  not  expect  it  of  me !  But  he  kept  his  thoughts 
to  himself.  I  returned  to  my  home  in  Dublin  before 
the  following  Sabbath.  The  news  that  I  "  had  been 
preaching  in  the  streets  of  Liverpool "  had  reached 
there  before  me,  and  the  congratulations  began  to 
pour  in.  But  to  call  such  a  poor  performance,  deliv- 
ered, too,  "  in  weakness,  and  in  fear,  and  in  much 
trembling  " — to  call  that  "  preaching,"  and  even  con- 
gratulate me  upon  it !  However,  this  was  the  "  send- 
ing forth  "  that  I  received,  and,  "  having  obtained  help 
of  God,  I  have  continued  unto  this  day  "  to  minister 
the  word  of  life  as  God  enabled  me.  Yes,  and  even 
upon  that  weakest  of  all  efforts,  a  gracious  God  was 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  65 

pleased  to  set  liis  own  seal.  I  was  to  meet  the  blessed 
result  forty-four  years  afterward  in  America,  when 
going  to  attend  my  Conference  in  Boston  on  the  5tli 
of  Api4J^  1883,  to  ask  the  sanction  of  my  ministerial 
brethren  for  my  absence  on  this  journey,  the  very  oc- 
casion when  the  resolution  upon  the  seventh  page  was 
so  generously  passed  !  The  excitement  there  men- 
tioned w^as  caused  partly  by  my  reference  to  this  first 
sermon  of  mine  in  Liverpool,  and  the  remarkable  fact 
that  on  the  evening  before,  w^hen  returning  from  Bos- 
ton to  Melrose,  a  member  of  my  charge  informed  me 
that  there  was  a  person  at  their  house  who  had  just 
arrived  from  New  York,  and  who  had  told  them  that 
he  traveled  up  in  company  with  a  gentleman  from 
Canada,  who,  being  a  Methodist,  had  inquired  as  to 
Methodist  matters  at  Melrose,  and,  on  the  pastor's 
name  having  been  mentioned,  the  gentleman  in  ques- 
tion started,  and  inquired  eagerly  as  to  the  Christian 
name  and  nationalitv,  and  when  assured  that  it  was 
"  William  Butler,  formerly  of  Dublin,"  he  remarked, 
with  deep  feeling,  "  Forty-four  years  ago  I  heard  that 
man  preach  in  St.  John's  Market,  in  Liverpool,  and 
under  that  sermon  I  was  led  to  Christ ! "  How  truly 
was  President  Jackson's  text  illustrated  in  this  case 
also :  "  God  hath  chosen  the  weak  things  of  the  world 
to  confound  the  things  which  are  mighty.  .  .  .  That 
no  flesh  should  glory  in  his  presence." 

But  there  was  another  purpose  to  be  realized  by 
that  visit  to  Liverpool.     While  there  I  made  the  ac- 


66  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

qiiaintaiice  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Trippett,  a  superannuated 
member  of  the  !N^ew  York  Conference,  who  had  come 
for  a  time  to  make  his  home  in  Liverpool.  From 
conversation  with  him  I  gained  further  information 
of  that  free  land  beyond  the  Atlantic,  and  its  grow- 
ing Methodism.  I  told  him  how  much  I  desired  in- 
formation about  both,  and  he  kindly  offered  to  order 
for  me  such  books  as  I  needed,  and  also  to  forward 
my  subscription  for  The  Christian  Advocate,  I  was 
thus  brought  into  contact  and  more  intimate  sympathy 
with  the  life  and  action  of  John  Wesley's  Church ; 
and  this  became,  in  some  sort,  a  training  that,  under 
Providence,  more  fully  prepared  the  way  for  my  con- 
nection with  that  Clmrch,  ten  years  afterward,  when 
I  had  gained  that  more  special  aptitude  which  was 
requisite  to  prepare  me  to  fill  the  peculiar  position 
which  the  necessity  of  the  hour  would  require.  I  was 
at  this  time  inexperienced  and  young,  and  liad  no 
qualification  for  preaching  the  Gospel  except  piety 
and  zeal  for  souls.  But  that  sermon  at  Liverpool 
settled  the  whole  question.  My  friends  would  take 
no  denial.  I  must  go  here  and  there  and  preach  (or 
"  talk,"  if  I  preferred  to  call  it  so),  and  thus  out  of 
one  effort  and  revival  into  another  I  was  carried  for- 
ward, trying  to  win  souls  for  the  Master. 

After  two  years  of  various  service  in  different 
circuits,  I  was  sent  to  Didsbury  College,  near  Man- 
chester, to  take  a  theological  course,  under  the  devout 
and  venerable  Dr.  Hannah.     During  one  of  my  vaca- 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  57 

tions,  learning  that  mj  beloved  friend  was  nearing 
eternity,  I  crossed  over  to  Ireland  to  see  her  once 
more.  She  was  an  enthusiastic  admirer  of  the  beau- 
ties of  nature,  seeing  in  them  the  handiwork  of  .her 
heavenly  Father ;  so,  as  long  as  she  could  bear  the 
effort,  she  was  carried  out  daily  and  laid  on  a  bed 
arranged  in  a  little  carriage,  and  a  gentle  pony,  care- 
fully led,  took  the  dear  invalid  wherever  she  wished 
to  go.  In  this  condition  I  found  her  near  her  home 
one  summer  day,  her  good  husband  guiding  the  little 
carriage.  There  she  lay,  her  head  on  the  pillow, 
looking  around  and  enjoying  the  lovely  landscape, 
which  she  knew  she  was  ere  long  to  exchange  for  the 
more  glorious  scenes  of  the  Paradise  of  God.  I 
came  to  the  side  of  the  carriage  and  looked  in  upon 
her  who  had  led  me  to  Jesus.  She  smiled,  and  the 
tears  came  down  the  sweet  face  as  she  saw  me.  She 
stretched  out  her  hand,  now  so  thin  and  wasted,  and 
laid  it  on  my  head,  and,  looking  up,  said,  "  Thank 
God,  here  is  one  that  is  faithful ! "  She  had  tried  to 
be  useful  to  many  others,  as  well  as  to  me,  but  some 
"in  times  of  temptation  had  fallen  away,"  and  it  grieved 
her.  My  steadfastness,  however,  and  my  prospect  of 
entering  the  holy  ministry  were  a  great  joy  to  her. 
It  was  evident  now  that  I  sliould  not  see  her  on  earth 
again,  as  I  had  to  return  to  England  to  resume  mj 
studies.  So,  with  tears,  I  bade  her  farewell,  not 
doubting  that  she  would  close  her  holy  and  useful  life 
triumphantly.     She   lingered   until  the  morning   of 


58  FiioM  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

March  29,  1843,  and  then  met  death  as  such  a  Chris- 
tian miglit  be  expected  to  meet  it.  She  had  her 
bed  wheeled  to  the  window,  which  commanded  a 
grand  view  of  the  scenery  she  so  much  admired. 
Ah'cady  she  had  sent  her  final  messages  of  Christian 
love  to  her  friends  and  those  she  had  so  religiously 
helped,  and  was  only  waiting  now  for  leave  to  depart 
and  be  with  Christ  forever.  The  morning  sun  was 
filling  the  view  before  her  with  loveliness,  and  the 
nurse  drew  her  attention  to  its  great  beauty,  when 

"  Faith"  lent  "  its  realizing  light," 

and  she  exclaimed,  "O  nurse!  soon  a  brighter  sun 
will  shine  upon  me  on  the  everlasting  hills ! "  She 
paused  and  then,  her  radiant  face  looking  all  the  joy 
that  she  expressed,  she  quoted  the  lines : 

"  The  world  recedes — it  disappears ; 
Heaven  opens  on  my  eyes ;  my  ears 
With  sounds  seraphic  ring ! " 

Her  ecstasy  of  joy  increased  ;  she  made  an  effort 
to  rise,  and  eagerly  stretched  out  her  hands,  as  if  to 
welcome  the  help  that  had  come  to  aid  her,  exultingly 
exclaiming : 

"  Lend,  lend  your  wings  !    I  mount !  I  fly  1 
'  0  Grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ? 
0  Death,  where  is  thy  sting  ?  '  " 

With  the  last  word  the  head  gently  settled  down,  and 
she  was  gone  !  Gone  to  be  "  forever  with  the  Lord." 
Gone,  too,  where  she  will  be  henceforth  surrounded 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  69 

by  the  fruits  of  her  loving  and  gentle  ministry  here 
below,  showing  wdiat  one  woman,  and  she  even  a 
weak  sufferer,  may  do  for  the  souls  around  her,  when 
her  whole  heart  is  given  in  loving  sympathy  to  the 
blessed  work.  Nor  w^as  she  unwelcomed  to  "the 
everlasting  habitations."  There  were  those  wlio 
waited  witli  joy  to  greet  her  on  her  arrival.  There 
slie  found  her  dear  old  harper — no  longer  old  and 
blind — for  his  eyes  were  wide  open  now  to  all  the 
glory  he  had  so  longed  to  see,  and  in  his  hands  was 
one  of  "the  harps  of  God"  (Rev.  xiv,  2;  xv,  2), 

"  Strung  and  tuned  for  endless  years, 
And  formed  by  power  divine." 

And  there,  too,  w^as  Neill,  her  coachman  (like  his  be- 
loved mistress,  for  years  a  sufferer),  \\iih  many  others, 
also,  who  welcomed  her  to  "  the  excellent  glory," 
while  here  below  there  remain  a  few  more  of  us  w^ho 
hope  to  overtake  her  soon.  It  may  be  also  that  she 
has  tliere  met,  and  recognized  already,  such  as  "  Sam- 
uel "  and  "  Prem  Das,"  and  "  Eodrigues  "  and  "  Epig- 
mio  Monroy,"  and  others  of  the  redeemed  converts 
which  have  already  "  gone  up  "  to  the  same  glorious 
home  from  the  "valley  of  the  Ganges"  and  the 
"land  of  Montezuma,"  "the  first-fruits"  of  a  glori- 
ous harvest  from  both  climes.  Doubtless  it  augments 
her  joy  to  know  that  she  had  something  to  do  with 
the  founding  of  both  those  missions !  By  her  special 
desire  her  mortal  remains  were  laid  to  rest  in  a  simple 
tomb,  similar  in  form,  and  side  by  side,  with  the  tomb 


dO  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

of  the  Kev.  Gideon  Ouselej,  her  religious  friend,  in 
the  Mount  Jerome  Cemetery,  Dublin.  Her  honored 
dust  there  reposes  in  sure  and  certain  hope  to  "  awake 
to  everlasting  life."  On  the  front  of  the  tomb  are 
the  words  "  Sacred  to  the  memory  of  Sydney  Mary 
Crampton."  In  the  same  cemetery,  and  as  near  to 
her  resting-place  as  I  could  arrange  it,  lies  the  body 
of  another  beloved  woman,  my  first  wife,  whose  early 
death,  and  the  circumstances  following  it,  led  me  to 
decide  to  emigrate  to  the  United  States.  It  was  her 
dying  wish  that  she  should  be  buried  in  the  same 
cemetery  with  Mrs.  Crampton,  and  that  affectionate 
desire  was  gratified. 

When  God  saved  my  soul  he  imbued  me  with  the 
missionary  spirit.  My  sympathy  for  unsaved  men 
every-where,  who  are  "  perishing  for  lack  of  knowl- 
edge," was  called  forth,  and  I  longed  that  they,  too, 
should  come  to  know  my  mighty  Saviour.  The  resi- 
dence in  England  gave  me  a  special  opportunity  for 
the  cultivation  of  this  missionary  spirit.  I  had  the 
privilege  of  meeting  some  of  the  most  honored  and 
useful  missionaries  of  their  time :  men  like  Barnabas 
Shaw,  Peter  Jones,  and  others,  whose  character  and 
labors  filled  me  with  admiration.  There,  too,  I  list- 
ened frequently  to  the  first  missionary  speakers  of 
their  day :  Robert  Newton,  Theophilus  Lessey,  Jabez 
Bunting,  and  many  more.  It  was  impossible  to  hear 
such  men  and  not  imbibe  their  Christlike  spirit.  I 
read  missionary  literature  extensively,  and  especially 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  61 

the  montniy  "  Missionary  !N'otices  "  of  tlie  Weslejan 
Society.  The  record  of  the  spread  of  my  Saviour's 
kingdom  over  the  earth  became  to  me  the  grandest  of 
all  literature,  ^or  was  my  reading  limited  to  Meth- 
odist missions.  I  read  the  publications  of  the  other 
societies  as  well,  and  rejoiced  in  the  progress  of  them 
all.  A  missionary  library  began  to  accumulate,  and 
my  interest  rose  with  my  intelligence  on  the  subject. 
In  the  meantime  I  had  been  brought  into  intimate 
relations  with  Eev.  James  Lynch,  who,  on  the  death 
of  Dr.  Coke,  had  become  superintendent  of  the  Wes- 
leyan  missions  in  the  East.  He  had  now  returned 
home,  and  was  in  the  last  year  of  his  ministerial  serv- 
ice, and,  being  feeble,  I  was  sent  to  assist  him. 
From  this  venerable  man  I  heard  much  that  was  cal- 
culated to  enlarge  my  views  and  deepen  my  interest 
in  missionary  work,  especially  in  India.  The  theme 
thus  became  familiar  to  my  thoughts  and  sympathies, 
yet,  beyond  making  a  missionary  speech  occasionally, 
I  did  not  dream  what  particular  use  the  Lord  was 
intending  to  make  of  the  deep  and  increasing  interest 
he  was  so  providentially  creating  in  my  mind  on  this 
subject.  But  he  intended  that  that  should  be  mani- 
fest when  his  own  time  had  come. 

In  1844  I  joined  the  Irish  Conference,  was  or- 
dained in  1848,  and  labored  altogether  six  years 
in  that  connection.  Still  a  regular  reader  of  The 
Christian  Advocate^  and  enlarging  my  acquaintance 
with  American  Methodism  by  reading  its  books,  my 


62  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

thoughts  and  wishes  were  constantly  turning  to  the 
great  West,  so  that,  early  in  1850,  on  the  occurrence 
of  events  which  left  me  free  to  decide,  I  resolved  to 
transfer  myself  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church, 
though  not  definitely  understanding  why  I  had  this 
decided  preference,  only  realizing  that  I  was  being 
"  guided  aright,"  and  that  God  would  hereafter  make 
it  plain  to  me.  I  reached  America  in  time  for  the 
meeting  of  the  New  York  Conference,  held  that  year 
at  JS^ew  Haven,  and  was  kindly  welcomed  by  Bishops 
Janes  and  Hedding.  On  examination  of  my  papers 
I  was  received  into  membership  with  the  Conference, 
but  two  days  after,  on  the  representation  of  the  Kev. 
Charles  Baker  as  to  the  want  of  men  in  his  district, 
I  was  transferred  to  the  New  England  Conference, 
and  stationed  at  Williamsburg,  Mass.  I  now  became 
more  fully  impressed,  in  view  of  her  growing  power, 
with  the  responsibility  of  the  American  Methodist 
Church,  before  God  and  Christendom,  to  do  her  full 
and  proper  part  of  that  missionary  service  for  which 
the  world  was  waiting,  and  began  to  talk  and  use 
my  pen  in  hope  of  somewhat  stimulating  her  zeal. 
Without  realizing  it,  I  was  drawing  attention  to  my- 
self, and  invitations  began  to  come  to  me^  requesting 
me  to  go  here  and  there,  to  congregations  and  Con- 
ferences, and  talk  upon  the  subject  that  lay  so  near 
my  heart. 

In  1852  I  published  a  "  Compendium  of  Missions," 
several  thousand  copies  of  which  went  into  circula- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  63 

tion,  and  drew  some  attention  to  the  great  duty 
wliicli  we  owed  to  the  world.  I  was  also  selected 
that  year  to  preach  the  missionary  sermon  before  the 
"  Biblical  Institute,"  at  Concord,  'N.  H.,  which  I  did 
from  the  text,  "  Thy  kingdom  come."  The  institute 
'  published  the  sermon.  In  all  my  efforts  I  assunjed 
that  Methodism  was  essentially,  and  from  the  com- 
mencement, missionary  in  her  spirit  and  aims ;  that 
it  became  her  to  realize  and  act  upon  this  con- 
viction as  God  increased  her  ability;  and  that,  in 
proportion  as  she  did  so,  the  Lord  would  use  and 
honor  her  in  extending  the  kingdom  of  his  Son 
upon  the  earth.  By  this  time  I  was  brought  into 
contact  with  Dr.  Durbin,  and  was  called  upon  to 
render  some  service  at  our  missionary  anniversaries. 
When  Harvey  Newcomb  commenced  liis  preparations 
for  the  publication  of  "  The  Cyclopaedia  of  Missions," 
he  applied  to  Dr.  Durbin  to  name  a  clergyman  of  our 
denomination  who  would  prepare  the  articles  on  the 
missions  of  British  and  American  Methodism ;  the 
doctor  did  me  the  honor  to  name  me  for  the  duty, 
so  that  I  soon  found  myself  occupying  a  position  of 
special  usefulness  by  the  kind  appreciation  of  my 
brethren,  and  with  work  enough  to  do  for  the  blessed 
cause  so  dear  to  me.  » 

Meanwhile  the  tide  of  missionary  interest  was 
rising  in  our  Church.  This  was  aided  by  the 
visit,  about  this  time,  of  Dr.  Duff,  from  Calcutta, 
and  his  earnest  pleadings  for  the  Ameiican  Churches 


64:  Fbom  Boston  to  Babeilly. 

to  extend  their  help  in  the  East.  Dr.  Durbin  was 
leading  our  own  Church  on  to  a  higher  sense  of  lier 
duty  to  Christ  and  to  the  world,  and  there  was  glowing 
before  his  mind  the  idea  of  a  mission  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  to  India.  His  grandest  outbursts 
of  feeling  and  eloquence  before  our  Annual  Confer- 
ences and  the  churches  were,  from  this  time  forward, 
on  this  topic.  The  Board  took  action  for  the  estab- 
lishment of  such  a  mission,  and  the  General  Missionary 
Committee,  in  November,  1853,  made  an  appropriation 
of  $7,000  for  its  conmiencement,  while  the  doctor 
was  instructed  to  seek  a  suitable  man  to  go  forth  as 
its  founder  and  first  superintendent.  A  volunteer 
was  desired,  and  an  advertisement  to  this  effect  was 
inserted  in  The  Christian  Advocate  and  The  Mission- 
ary Advocate,  in  which  such  a  person  was  invited  to 
offer  himself  for  this  service.  But  the  missionary 
year  closed  without  any  one,  deemed  suitable,  coming 
forward.  Dr.  Durbin  became  very  anxious,  and  so 
was  the  Board.  In  November,  1854,  the  appropriation 
was  renewed,  and  the  search  for  the  man  continued. 
I  watched  the  result  with  deep  solicitude.  In  review 
of  the  facts,  and  having  had  of  late  years — since  my 
return — conversations  with  some  who  then  felt  more  or 
less  disposed  to  offer  themselves  for  the  service,  I  am 
not  so  much  surprised  as  I  was  at  the  time  with  the 
singular  hesitation  of  our  ministers  to  come  forward 
for  this  duty.  India  then  seemed  very  far  away,  and 
had  but  little  commercial  relations  with  this  country ; 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  65 

most  of  what  was  done  was  by  the  Tudor  Company 
of  Boston,  which  cut  the  Wenham  Lake  ice,  and  sent 
it  round  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  to  Calcutta,  bring- 
ing back  India  products.  The  intercourse  with  the 
East  was  limited.  Japan  was  then  a  sealed  country, 
and  our  mission  in  China  very  feebly  developed.  So 
there  was  but  little  enthusiasm  on  the  surface  of 
Oriental  affairs  to  encourage  our  men  to  go  there.  It 
need  not  be  wondered  at  that  our  ministers  were 
slow  in  looking  beyond  all  these  discouragements  to 
the  duty  of  carrying  the  Gospel  to  the  perishing, 
who  seemed  so  far  away.  Then,  in  a  few  cases  when 
this  was  surmounted,  and  men  felt  disposed  to  go, 
domestic  considerations  had  to  be  weighed.  The 
wife  was  found  unwilling  to  venture,  or  without  the 
health  that  such  a  duty  would  require ;  or,  where 
health  and  wilHngness  existed,  it  was  hard  to  give  up 
the  little  ones,  or  it  was  found  that  they  could  not  be 
provided  for.  So  one  after  another  failed,  and  1854 
closed  with  nothing  yet  accomplished. 

In  the  spring  of  the  preceding  year  I  had  been 
stationed  at  Westfield,  and  there  my  precious  wife 
died,  and  I  was  left  with  three  little  ones,  the 
youngest  only  four  months  old.  Hitherto,  though 
my  heart  was  yearning  for  the  commencement  of 
that  mission  in  India,  I  had  not  thought  seriously  of 
offering  myself  to  go.  I  reflected  that  I  was  only  a 
stranger  in  the  land,  and   naturally  felt  that  some 

native  American   minister,  and   one   better   known, 
5  • 


66  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

would  attract  more  confidence,  as  well  as  bring  to  the 
inception  of  the  work  an  interest  that  I  could  not 
hope  to  develop.  Then,  again,  my  wife's  delicacj 
of  health  had  convinced  me  tlie  burden  was  one  that 
she  could  not  sustain  for  a  single  year.  So  it  seemed 
all  that  I  could  do  in  the  case  was  to  pray  and  hope 
that  some  suitable  man,  with  full  freedom  for  the 
burden  to  be  borne,  would  offer  himself  soon.  Dr. 
Durbin  and  the  Missionary  Board  could  not  under- 
stand the  reasons  of  this  delay,  and  became  impatient 
over  it.  Some  eminent  person  wrote  to  the  doctor  at 
this  time  on  the  subject  of  his  great  solicitude,  re- 
marking, "  If  we  have  a  work  to  do  in  that  country, 
we  shall  find  God's  chosen  instruments  to  execute  it." 
On  this  the  doctor,  whose  soul  was  exercised  so  long 
by  the  "  hope  deferred,"  laconically  remarked,  "  We 
confess  to  a  longing  for  their  appearing."  But  when 
the  month  of  May,  1855,  arrived,  and  the  suitable 
instrument  had  not  appeared,  he  could  endure  it  no 
longer.  He  took  up  his  pen  and  wrote  an  article 
w4iich  must  liave  cost  him  some  of  the  deepest  feel- 
ing of  his  life.  It  appeared  in  The  Christian  Advo- 
cate of  the  10th  of  May,  and  was  headed,  "  The 
Crisis."  I  will  quote  the  first  part  of  it.  He 
says :  "  We  are  no  alarmist,  and  do  not  now  mean 
to  sound  an  alarm-note.  But  after  consultation, 
particularly  with  Bishop  Simpson,  who  has  charge  of 
our  intended  missions  in  India  and  Turkey,  we  feel 
free  to  say,  that  this  is  the  third  year  the  General 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  67 

Missionary  Committee  lias  provided  the  money  for 
the  commencement  of  a  mission  in  India,  and  yet  the 
Bishops  have  not  been  able  to  obtain  a  minister  of 
suitable  age,  healtli,  and  habits,  as  founder  and  super- 
intendent of  the  mission.  In  general  terms,  the 
superintendent  should  be  from  twenty-live  to  thirty- 
ii  ve  years  of  age,  and  of  at  least  seven  years  in  the  min- 
istry ;  of  good  health,  not  constitutionally  inclined  to 
disease  of  the  liver;  married,  and  not  with  more 
tlian  one  child  or  two,  better  without  children ;  health 
of  the  wife  good,  and  free  from  constitutional  tenden- 
cies to  disease.  Such  a  minister  and  his  wife,  w^ith 
their  minds  made  up  to  give  their  lives  to  a  mission 
in  India,  would  be  a  great  boon  to  the  Church  at  this 
time.  We  think  we  could  iind  two  other  younger 
brethren,  of  similar  conditions  and  habits  as  members 
of  the  mission.  These  three  mission  families  would 
lay  the  foundations  of  the  mission  of  tlie  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church  in  India,  and  we  do  not  doubt  but 
that  the  Church  would  afford  the  mission  the  means 
of  prosecuting  its  great  work  on  a  scale  that  would 
secure  the  attention  and  confidence  of  the  Church,  and 
redound  to  the  glory  of  God. 

"We  are  of  opinion  that  the  brethren  competent 
to  found  and  execute  tlie  mission  are  in  the  ministry 
among  us,  if  we  could  be  brought  into  connection 
with  them.  Yery  many  letters  have  been  written  by 
the  Bishops  and  Corresponding  Secretary,  but  as  yet 
without  success." 


68  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

Dr.  Durbin  then  proceeded  to  urge  upon  the  pre- 
siding elders  and  others  to  look  round  them  and  try 
earnestly  to  find  the  man  so  much  desired,  and  get 
him  into  communication  with  Bishop  Simpson  or  the 
Secretary,  that  the  mission  might  be  commenced 
without  further  delay. 

I  thought,  surely  this  definite  and  pathetic  plea 
would  bring  the  proper  person  to  the  front,  and 
especially  when  so  many  were  looking  for  him.  So 
I  waited  to  see  the  result,  confident  it  must  be  close 
at  hand  now.  Every  issue  of  the  Advocate  was 
watched,  but  week  after  week  went  over  and  no  item 
appeared.  The  case  now  began  to  look  very  serious. 
Indeed,  it  became  almost  awful  to  realize  that,  from 
the  ranks  of  the  thousands  of  our  ministry,  a  super- 
intendent for  this  mission  could  not  be  found. 
Must  the  project,  then,  be  abandoned  by  our  great 
Church,  while  God  was  opening  the  door  of  access 
to  those  perishing  millions,  and  the  money  was  ready 
and  waiting,  and  all  for  the  want  of  a  suitable 
man?  If  so,  could  we  expect  to  retain  the  favor  of 
God  while  we  thus  left  the  souls  for  whom  Christ 
died  to  perish  without  hearing  of  him  and  his  grace, 
so  free  and  abundant  for  them  ?  Thousands  of  our 
spiritually  minded  people  were  asking  such  questions 
as  these,  and  they  were  urged  for  consideration  at  our 
missionary  services  and  Annual  Conferences.  In 
these  better  days,  when  God's  servants  offer  them- 
selves so  willingly  for  our  various  fields  of  missionary 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  69 

service,  it  does  seem  strange  that  such  an  emergency 
could  ever  have  arisen  in  our  missionary  history. 
But  the  results  show  that  the  only  thing  really  needed 
was  a  leader,  some  one  to  go  before  and  prepare  the 
way.  Yet,  under  the  circumstances  which  developed, 
it  seems  evident  that  it  required  and  received  God's 
more  special  providence  to  provide  this  leader  for 
this  mission,  and  also  to  have  him  ready  just  at  this 
emergency.  But  this  much  having  been  done,  men 
in  sufficient  numbers  began  to  come  forward,  and  the 
founder  of  the  mission  after  two  or  three  years  be- 
came well  sustained  with  fellow-laborers  in  the  field 
chosen.  I  am  the  more  particular  to  trace  out  these 
facts,  not  to  call  attention  to  myself  or  my  share  in 
the  work  (for  what  am  I  in  the  matter  but  an  humble 
instrument  of  the  Divine  purpose  ?)  I  do  it  in  the 
hope  that,  having  thus  traced  them,  and  furnished  the 
record,  as  no  one  else  can,  I  may  leave  a  permanent 
impression  upon  the  heart  of  my  beloved  Church  in 
regard  to  the  definite  and  providential  preparation  for 
til  at  great  work  to  which  she  was  thus  called  in  India. 
My  heart's  desire  and  prayer  is,  that  she  may  be  led 
more  fully  to  appreciate  her  opportunity,  and  be 
faithful  and  strong  to  do  her  full  duty,  as  God  must 
certainly  expect  she  will,  after  all  that  he  has  himself 
thus  done  to  open  her  way  for  its  accomplishment. 

At  the  close  of  1854  I  had  again  married,  and  on  re- 
turning to  my  liome,  in  Lynn,  found  a  letter  awaiting 
me  from  Dr.  Durbin,  which  was,  indeed,  a  surprise. 


70  FiiOM  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

JN'ot  knowing  that  I  was  about  to  marry,  and  suppos- 
ing that  he  could  somehow  find  homes  for  my  mother- 
less children,  he  wrote  to  ask  me  (not,  whether  I 
would  go  to  India, — had  he  put  that  question  to  me 
at  any  time  during  the  year  preceding  it  would  have 
been  promptly  answered  in  the  affirmative,  but) 
whether  I  would  be  willing  to  go  to  Africay  to  super- 
intend the  mission  in  Liberia  ?  I  was  amazed.  My 
interest  and  anxiety  were  with  the  project  for  India, 
and  all  the  preceding  facts  seemed  to  point  there  and 
not  to  Africa.  But  the  question  had  come,  and  I 
had  to  answer  it.  I  felt  at  once  that,  with  my  full- 
blooded  habit,  I  should  probably  liave  but  small  chance 
of  life  and  service  in  Africa.  It  seemed  to  me  a  mis- 
take to  send  me  there.  Yet,  I  am  grateful  I  did 
not  answer  "  No,"  that  I  told  Dr.  Durbin  if  it  was 
considered,  after  medical  examination,  that  I  had  a 
fair  chance  of  life,  and,  therefore,  of  labor,  in  Africa, 
I  would  go.  But  an  immediate  reply  from  him 
came  back,  explaining  that  he  supposed  I  was  still 
single  and  could  go  alone.  And  this  not  being  so, 
he  did  not  wish  to  have  me  go,  and  withdrawing  his 
letter.  So  I  was  reserved  for  the  more  important 
duty  that  was  yet  to  be  presented,  but  had  to  wait 
till  God  had  made  the  requisite  preparations,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  world,  for  our  coming.  This  ac- 
complished. He  knew,  doubtless,  that  every  thing 
requisite  on  this  side  could  be  consummated  in  a  few 
days,  and  the  mission  to  India  would  be  initiated  as  he 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  71 

desired.  It  is  said  that  "  God  is  never  in  a  Imrry," 
but  when  his  "  set  time  "  is  come,  and  lie  has  made 
all  ready,  he  is  often  in  haste  for  the  accomplishment 
of  his  purpose.  He  requires  promptitude  from  those 
whom  he  calls  into  his  service.  When  he  says  "  Go," 
the  unburied  relatives  must  be  left  to  other  hands, 
and  the  plow  be  forsaken  in  the  furrow,  by  the  mes- 
sengers on  whom  the  mantle  of  duty  has  fallen,  or  they 
are  not  Ht  for  the  service  of  the  kingdom  of  God. 

]S"early  three  months  had  passed  since  that  appeal 
appeared,  on  the  10th  of  May,  and  Dr.  Durbin,  be- 
coming discouraged,  began  to  intimate  that,  if  a  suit- 
able man  did  not  offer  to  go  to  India  within  a  few 
weeks,  the  Board  would  not  recommend  to  the  General 
Committee  another  renewal  of  the  appropriation,  and 
the  project  of  a  mission  to  India  by  our  Church 
would,  consequently,  be  abandoned  !  How  much  pain 
must  that  apprehension  have  cost  the  doctor!  I 
was  exceedingly  distressed.  But  my  mind  was  at 
once  made  up,  that  the  project  should  not  be  aban- 
doned, if  they  thought  me  suitable  for  the  position. 
Though  I  would  have  much  preferred,  for  the  reasons 
given  a  few  pages  back,  that  this  responsible  duty 
had  been  laid  upon  the  shoulders  of  some  brother 
better  known  and  an  American ;  yet,  failing  such  a 
one,  my  simple  and  decided  purpose  was,  "  Here  am 
I,  send  me."  That  I  miglit  however  be  clear  in  my 
own  mind  that  the  duty  was  really  left  to  me,  I  re- 
solved to  wait  two  or  three  weeks  more,  and  if  the 


72  Feom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

American  brother,  whom  I  preferred  for  the  service, 
did  not  come  forward  and  respond  to  the  "  crisis,"  I 
would  then  hesitate  no  longer. 

Four  weeks  before  the  meeting  of  the  Board  at 
which  this  serious  action  would  be  taken,  I  went  to 
New  York  to  ascertain  quietly  whether  the  way  was 
now  open  for  me  to  offer  myself.  Dr.  Durbin  was 
not  in  the  city,  but  Brother  Terry  informed  me  the 
man  desired  had  not  come  forward,  and  also  how 
deeply  exercised  Dr.  Durbin's  heart  was  in  view  of 
the  failure.  I  returned  home,  had  an  interview  with 
my  presiding  elder,  Rev.  Dr.  Crowell,  and  then,  with 
my  wife's  full  consent,  and  invoking  the  divine  guid- 
ance, on  the  10th  of  October,  I  wrote  to  Dr.  Durbin 
and  offered  myself  for  India.  I  was  accepted  and 
the  painful  "  crisis  "  was  over.  How  glad  I  felt ! 
I  seemed  now  to  realize  why  it  was  I  was  so 
providentially  led  to  America.  It  was  evident  that 
God  had  a  purpose  in  my  coming,  and  it  was  his 
intention  I  should  be  on  hand  to  meet  a  foreseen 
emergency,  so  that  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church 
should  not  fail  of  her  duty  to  Christ  and  the  world. 
In  a  review  of  the  facts  that  have  been  developed, 
it  seems  very  clear  to  me  now  that  I  was  divinely  con- 
trolled as  well  as  guided  in  the  whole  matter,  and 
especially  in  the  more  emergent  circumstances.  A 
fact  or  two  may  here  illustrate  the  reasons  for  this 
conviction. 

Trusting  that  I  do  not  presume  in  thinking  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  73 

Lord  intended  I  should  become  the  founder  of  the 
India  mission,  it  seems  plain  that,  for  reasons  then 
known  only  to  himself  (some  of  which,  however, 
are  clear  to  us  now),  I  was  held  back  until  he  was 
ready  in  his  providential  arrangements  for  the  work 
which  had  to  be  done.  We  can  now  see  that,  had  I 
acted  six  months  sooner  than  I  did,  the  field  it  was 
best  for  me  to  choose,  and  which  I  did  choose,  would 
not  have  been  open  to  us,  for  the  King  of  Oude 
would  have  stood  right  in  the  way.  He  was  not  re- 
moved and  his  kingdom  annexed  itntil  a  few  weeks 
before  I  reached  India,  in  1856.  The  patience  of  the 
English  government  with  this  royal  sot  and  utterly 
debased  creature  had  just  been  exhausted,  and  his 
removal  decreed.  His  terrible  record  is  given  in  "  The 
Private  Life  of  an  Eastern  King,"  written  by  an  xlmer- 
ican  gentleman  in  his  employment  (republished  about 
1854  in  this  country).  Up  to  that  hour  Oude  was  closed 
to  Christian  missions.  Again,  Eohilcund  without 
Oude,  would  have  been  too  small  for  our  purposes,  and 
I  might  have  been  thus  led  to  choose  some  other  field 
not  at  all  so  suitable  in  the  qualities  which  I  was  in- 
structed to  seek  as  the  one  we  now  occupy ;  for  that 
choice  has  stood  the  test  of  twenty-five  years'  reflection, 
and  is  admitted  to-day,  by  general  consent,  to  be  imex- 
celled  by  an}^  other  region  occupied  or  unoccupied  in 
all  India.  Again,  had  I  gone  six  months  earlier,  it 
seems  almost  certain  that  some  of  my  colleagues 
might  have  reached  me  ere  the  terrific  storm  of  1857 


74  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

burst  over  Hindustan.  As  it  was  I  was  alone  to  face 
tlie  danger,  and  the  Church  was  not  discouraged,  as 
she  might  have  been,  by  the  loss  of  her  first  repre- 
sentatives. God  had  only  to  hide  me  and  mine  in 
the  hollow  of  his  hand  till  the  indignation  was  over- 
past, and  when  over,  my  first  colleagues,  who  were 
waiting  on  the  outside  of  the  danger  at  Calcutta  (two 
brethren  and  their  wives),  were  able  to  enter  and  join 
me,  all  safe  and  well.  On  the  other  hand,  it  was 
most  wisely  arranged  that  I  should  not  be  later  in  ar- 
riving than  the  *fall  of  1856.  We  were  just  ten 
weeks  settled  down  in  our  chosen  field  when  the 
Sepoy  Rebellion  opened  its  horrors.  God  probably 
knew  it  was  best  the  first  representative  of  the 
Church  should  pass  through  that  ordeal,  and  then 
come  forth  out  of  the  midst  of  that  circle  of  fire  with 
not  a  hair  of  his  head  singed,  to  find  his  beloved 
Church  rejoicing  over  his  safety,  and  ready  to  re- 
spond to  the  grand  extent  necessary,  with  her  men 
and  her  means,  to  occupy  the  wide  field  so  providen- 
tially given  her  to  cultivate  there  for  Him.  God  thus 
timed  our  coming,  and  took  abundant  care  of  the  emer- 
gencies involved,  so  that  all  should  "  turn  out  for  the 
furtherance  of  the  Gospel." 

It  was  arranged  by  the  missionary  authorities  that 
I  should  be  ready  to  sail  for  India  as  soon  as  my  Con- 
ference met,  in  April.  Meanwhile,  one  or  two  young 
colleagues  to  accompany  me  were  being  sought  for 
by  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  but,  to  my  regret,  as 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  T5 

well  as  his  own,  the  effort  was  without  success  so  far. 
Yet  even  this  hesitation,  as  we  can  now  see,  was 
overruled  for  good.  On  reachinsj  India  a  great  deal 
of  prospecting  had  to  be  done,  the  various  unoccupied 
portions  compared,  and  tlie  one  most  suitable  selected. 
So  it  was  best  the  founder  of  the  mission  should  go 
alone  and  be  free  to  meet  this  heavy  responsibility. 
The  guidance  of  God  would  surely  be  given,  and  time 
and  experience  have  shown  that  it  was  granted 
according  to  the  necessity  of  the  case. 

While  finishing  my  pastoral  term  and  getting  ready 
for  our  departure  to  the  East,  a  curious  circumstance 
transpired  in  Lynn,  where  I  was  then  stationed.  The 
Rev.  Parsons  Cooke,  of  the  Congregational  Church, 
issued  a  work  in  two  volumes  (subsequently  increased 
to  three),  in  which  be  undertook  to  show,  as  his  pages 
Btated,  that  "  Methodism  is  not  a  true  branch  of  the 
Church  of  Christ!" 

Til  is  singularly  bigoted  man — my  next-door  neigh- 
bor, as  it  were — originated  quite  a  sensation  by  his 
BUdden  and  startling  charge.  But  he  labored  hard  to 
prove  his  uncharitable  imputation  true,  chiefly  on  the 
ground,  as  he  aP-^  •  ',  that  Methodism  was  manifestly 
fi^o-v^»^^  issionary  spirit,  and,  therefore, 

-^2^  aVso  a  &  Iq  characteristic  of  a  trv^  C^VV- 

.  Icl.  l^aste,  7-  ^f-S^ltj  to  charge  us 

^'^  t\.e  A^-  ^'^^ ''''  ^^t  home,  "  in  secta- 

^ioreto^  .m  the  pr.^  ^^^  Christian  life 

Hehp> 


76  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

nual  Report  of  our  Missionary  Society  for  1854,  and 
his  manipulation  of  its  statements  and  figures  were 
singularly  unfair  and  uncandid. 

The  gist  of  his  argument  was,  that  with  all  our 
boasted  progress  we  had  no  true  foreign  mission 
worthy  the  name,  and  yet  were  raising  missionary 
money  under  that  pretense,  in  order  to  spend  it  at 
home,  where  he  considered  we  were  not  much  re- 
quired, and  were  rather  in  tlie  way  of  other  denom- 
inations like  his  own.  His  specification  was,  tliat  of 
the  $228,204  income  of  the  year,  we  spent  only  $4,883 
on  China,  $964  on  Soutli  America,  $10,055  on  Ger- 
many, and  $33,825  on  Liberia — only  the  first-named, 
according  to  him,  being  a  mission  to  the  heathen ;  all 
the  rest — nearly  four  fifths  of  the  whole  amount — we 
were  spending  at  home.  It  seemed  greatly  to  distress 
this  man  that  our  American  Methodism  was  spending 
"  so  much  at  home, "  and  gaining  such  a  foothold  in 
the  land.  He  had  no  thanks  to  render  to  God  for  the 
fact  that  tens  of  thousands  were  being  yearly  converted 
and  led  to  Christ  thereby,  or  that  we  were  gaining 
the  strength  and  development  wliich  would  soon  enable 
us  to  do  our  duty  to  the  heathen  world,  l^or  did  he 
make  the  slightest  allowance  for  the  fact  that  our 
'^Iv^^t^Lv  as  an  organized  Christian  community,  was 

I  should  be  reaay  years  old  when  he  was  writing  these 

ference  met,  in  Apri'.inst  her. 

colleagues  to  accompting  that  her  progress  in  those 

by  the  Corresponding  om  nothing  up  to  her  standing 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  77 

in  1854,  was  a  marvel  of  grace  and  progress  such  as 
Cliristendom  had  never  seen  before,  and  for  which  a 
good  man  might  well  be  glad  and  bless  God,  he,  on 
the  contrary,  seemed  vexed  and  distressed  at  the  de- 
velopment of  this  youngest  member  of  the  evangelical 
family,  so  unjustly  taunted  by  his  comparison.  lie 
overlooked  the  fact  that  his  own  denomination,  when 
it  was  only  seventy  years  old,  had  not  done  one  haK  as 
much  for  home  or  foreign  missions  as  the  Methodist 
Clmrch  had  in  the  same  time.  He  ignored  the  unex- 
ampled liberality  of  this  young  Church  in  the  resources 
which  she  had  developed  to  build  her  houses  of  w^or- 
ship,  her  parsonages,  schools,  and  colleges,  and  other 
institutions  over  this  wide  land,  with  all  of  which  ap- 
pliances his  own  denomination  had  been  supplied  for 
nearly  two  hundred  years,  and,  therefore,  his  com- 
parisons were  wanting  in  Christian  candor,  and  un- 
fair before  God  and  man.  He  also  ignored  the 
fact  that  our  denomination  was,  even  then,  standing 
at  the  head  of  all  the  American  Churches  in  efforts 
for  the  evangelization  of  the  heathen  Indians,  hav- 
ing more  stations,  missionaries,  church  members,  and 
scholars  than  any  of  them.  (See  "  Newcomb's  Cyclo- 
paedia of  Missions,"  p.  626.) 

How  sad  it  seems  to  quote  to-day  the  words  of  this 
angry  man,  when  he  had  the  temerity  to  charge  us 
with  wasting  missionary  money  at  home,  "  in  secta- 
rian rivalry  that  added  nothing  to  the  Christian  life 
of  the  land  I " 


78  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

It  is  also  monitory  to  remember  now,  that,  despite 
all  the  talk  of  the  time,  of  '*'  Christian  Union "  and 
"  Evangelical  Alliance,"  the  reckless  charges  of  this 
man,  instead  of  being  rebuked,  were  eagerly  taken  up 
and  reiterated  by  some  professors  and  editors  of  liis 
own  Church,  and  our  ministry  and  people  in  many 
places  were  taunted  by  their  neighbors,  who  were 
simple  enough  to  suppose  the  charges  were  true  be- 
cause such  men  repeated  them  so  confidently.  These 
reckless  and  uncharitable  writers  would  not  thank  me 
were  I  here  to  quote  their  names  and  the  harsh  utter- 
ances to  which  they  so  eagerly  committed  themselves 
against  the  Methodist  people.  Enough,  that  their 
Master  and  ours  was  so  soon  to  roll  away  these  re- 
proaches and  vindicate  us  on  this  ground,  also,  as  a 
true  Church  of  Jesus  Christ.  But  it  made  me  trem- 
ble to  think,  what  justification  they  would  have  found 
for  their  stinging  invectives  had  the  catastrophe  oc- 
curred which  Dr.  Durbin  feared  when  he  wrote  that 
final  appeal,  in  1855,  entitled  -'The  Crisis!"  Had  we 
really  failed,  and  abandoned  the  project  of  a  mission 
to  India  for  want  of  a  suitable  man  to  lead  the  way, 
then,  indeed,  Parsons  Cooke  and  those  who  echoed  his 
charges  would  have  made  the  severest  use  of  the  fact 
to  our  disgrace  and  annoyance.  God  alone  can  know 
what  the  depressing  effect  would  have  been  upon  the 
missionary  spirit  of  our  Church  for  many  years  after- 
ward, or  how  long  it  would  have  been  ere  we  could 
have  recovered  ourselves  and  stood  where  it  is  our 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  79 

joy  and  honor  to  stand  to-day  upon  this  question 
before  Christendom  and  before  God. 

But  we  may  venture  to  predict  that  Parsons  Cooke's 
"  Centuries "  will  not  be  much  read  during  the  mil- 
lennium, while  it  is  a  comfort  to  think  that  he  has, 
ere  this,  witnessed  arrivals  in  the  heavens,  the  gath- 
ered fruits  of  Methodist  missions  from  India  and 
otlier  heathen  lands,  which  have  amply  convinced  even 
him  that  he  greatly  mistook  the  spirit  and  purpose  of 
the  Methodist  Church  when  he  undertook  to  w^rite 
these  volumes ! 

Two  of  our  children  were  then  beyond  the  age 
when  it  is  considered  to  be  safe  and  proper,  on  ac- 
count of  growth,  education,  and  moral  influence,  to 
have  them  in  India.  To  meet  this  difficult}^  was,  in 
our  case,  a  heavy  cross  that  only  they  know  who  have 
had  to  bear  it.  It  is  a  wound  that  seldom  heals  in  a 
parent's  heart,  but  of  which  missionaries  generally 
say  but  little,  lest  they  be  misunderstood.  Yet  it  is 
a  sorrow  in  which,  no  doubt,  they  have  the  special 
sympathy  of  Him  for  w^hom  the  sacrifice  is  made.  In 
this  case  the  cross  was  more  weighty  from  our  not  hav- 
ing relatives  on  this  side  of  the  Atlantic  with  whom 
they  could  be  left.  They  had  to  be  intrusted  to  the 
care  of  strangers,  whose  interest  in  them  had  to  be 
paid  for.  We  had  been  led  to  hope  for  other  arrange- 
ments, while  we  met  the  necessary  expenses,  where 
a  sympatlietic  and  Christian  interest  would  have  been 
secured  for  them ;  but  all  failed,  and  at  last  the  day 


80  Fkoi^  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

of  sailing  drew  so  close  that  we  had  to  accept  the 
best  arrangement  that  seemed  available,  which  was  to 
place  them  at  a  private  school  in  Connecticut,  in  the 
hands  of  strangers  whom  we  had  only  corresponded 
wuth,  but  had  not  seen,  until  the  evening  when  we 
went  to  place  our  darlings  in  their  hands. 

We  had  some  reproaches  to  bear  from  a  few  who, 
if  we  could  judge  from  their  remarks,  would  not 
resign  a  child  of  theirs  in  order  to  save  any  number 
of  human  souls.  Of  course  such  people  could  have 
little  sympathy  with  "the  Father  of  mercies,"  who, 
in  man's  great  extremity,  "  spared  not  his  own  Son, 
but  freely  delivered  him  up  for  us  all" — gave  him 
up  to  a  poverty  where  he  '*  had  not  vliere  to  lay  his 
head,"  and  to  sacrifice  and  suffering  for  sin  in  which 
*^  he  poured  out  his  soul  unto  death,  and  made  inter- 
cession for  the  transgressors."  In  the  yearnings  of 
our  own  hearts,  and  amid  these  remarks  by  such 
mistaken  friends,  there  came  to  our  aid  the  appro- 
priate and  sympathizing  promise,  "  There  is  no  man 
that  hath  left  house,  or  parents,  or  brethren,  or 
wife,  or  children^  for  the  kingdom  of  God's  sake, 
who  shall  not  receive  manifold  more  in  this  present 
time,  and  in  the  world  to  come  life  everlasting."  To 
this  blessed  promise  we  clung  both  then  and  when  far 
away,  while  our  hearts  ached  as  we  thought  of  them. 
One  of  these  dear  boys  we  were  not  to  see  again  on 
earth,  as  he  died  four  years  after  we  left  him.  Yet 
now,  twenty-seven  years  since  that  cross  was  lifted  for 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  81 

Jcsus's  sake,  and  amid  the  blessed  results,  with  four 
of  our  children,  we  trust,  in  lieaven  and  the  other  four 
on  earth  in  the  Church  of  their  parents,  and  some  of 
these  also  honored  and  useful  in  the  same  holy  work, 
we  feel  that  God  has  been  true  to  his  promise — we 
have  received  the  "  hundred-fold  more  in  the  present 
time,"  and  are  willing  to  compare  our  experience  with 
any  of  those  whose  thoughtless  words  gave  us  pain  in 
this  matter  of  resigning  our  children  in  1856. 

In  the  preparation  of  this  review  of  the  circum- 
stances through  which  we  were  called  to  pass,  in  the 
founding  and  development  of  our  mission  in  India,  I 
cannot  be  too  grateful  that  God  put  it  into  my  heart 
to  rescue  my  notes  and  letter  books  when,  on  the 
night  of  the  escape  from  Bareilly,  I  had  so  hurriedly 
to  fly  and  leave  nearly  every  thing  else  in  our  home 
to  the  torch  of  the  Sepoy.  The  help  to  me  is  very 
great.  Had  I  to  trust  merely  to  my  memory  now  I 
should  have  to  write  watli  great  hesitancy  of  the  re- 
markable scenes  through  which  we  were  called  to  pass. 
But,  with  these  books  and  old  letters  and  journals  in 
my  hands,  I  can  live  it  all  over  again,  and  see  and 
compare  it  safely  and  accurately.  Truly  has  the  poet 
said : 

"  Sounds  which  address  the  ear  are  lost  and  die 
In  one  short  hour ;  while  that  which  strikes  the  eye 
Lives  long  upon  the  mind;  the  faithful  sight 
Graves 't  on  the  memory  with  a  beam  of  light." 

My  work  in  the  preparation  of  the  articles  on  the 
"  Missions  of  English  and  American  Methodism,"  for 


82  FiioM  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

Newcomb's  CyclopcBdia  of  Missions^  had  to  be  con- 
cluded before  we  sailed.  This  threw  an  additional 
burden  upon  weeks  that  were  already  sufficiently 
crowded  with  the  cares  and  duties  wliich  the  new 
condition  of  things  had  brought.  But  at  length  dil- 
igent toil  conquered  the  situation,  and  our  prepara- 
tions were  completed  in  time  for  the  meeting  of  the 
Annual  Conference. 

On  the  8th  of  April,  1856,  we  went  to  Salem 
to  take  our  farewell  of  the  Conference,  over  which 
Bishop  Janes  was  presiding.  We  knew,  and  were 
persuaded,  tliat  the  loving  sympathies  and  prayers  of 
these  dear  brethren  would  follow  us  to  the  last.  It 
made  me  feel  strong  that  I  enjoyed  their  generous 
confidence  for  tlie  peculiar  and  difficult  duties  which 
I  had  undertaken.  Though  neitlier  they  nor  we 
could  then  imagine  the  "  great  light  of  affiictions  " 
into  the  very  center  of  which  they  were  pending  us, 
nor  the  dark  clouds  of  heathen  cruelty  which  were  so 
completely  to  envelop  us  after  our  arrival,  that  for 
many  weary  months  they  were  to  fear  we  were  no 
longer  among  the  living!  Like  that  father  of  the 
faithful,  who,  "  when  he  was  called  to  go  out  into  a 
place  which  he  should  after  receive  for  an  inheritance, 
obeyed,  not  knowing  wliither  he  went,"  so  our  sim- 
ple duty  was  obedience,  and  our  confidence  was  trust 
in  the  same  divine  guidance.  We  "  knew  not  what 
things  might  befall  us  there ; "  but  we  knew  our 
Guide,   and   that  was   sufficient.      Enough  that  lie 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  83 

knew,  and  had  challenged  our  confidence  in  the 
words,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end 
of  the  world."  It  was  not  only  sufficient,  but  even 
best,  that  we  should  not  know  in  advance.  Far  better 
to  wait  and  work  on  in  the  duty  assigned  us,  assured 
that  as  our  day  so  our  strength  should  be. 

That  night  the  farewell  meeting  was  held  in  my 
church  in  Lynn.  It  was  a  crowded  and  memorable 
meeting.  H.  Y.  Degan  presided.  A.  D.  Merrill 
offered  the  opening  prayer.  Dr.  M.  L.  Scudder  was 
the  first  speaker,  his  theme  being  "  The  Nature  and 
Necessity  of  the  Missionary  Cause."  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Dr.  Jesse  T.  Peck  on  "  The  Grand  Idea  of 
the  Missionary  Work."  Then  Dr.  Durbin  rose  and 
traced  "  The  Divine  Hand  in  the  Inception  of  this 
Mission  to  India"  (though  how  much  of  his  theme  was 
still  unknown,  even  to  him,  these  pages  show).  Turn- 
ing to  me,  as  we  stood  there  together  in  the  pulpit, 
he  gave  me  a  charge  on  confidence  in  divine  guid- 
ance, and  then  handed  me  my  letter  of  instructions, 
my  passport,  and  a  letter  of  credit,  and  closed  his  ad- 
dress with  much  feeling,  saying,  "  My  brother,  we 
give  3'ou  a  large  discretion  in  the  duty  you  have  to 
fulfill  for  us."  He  then  paused  and  exclaimed,  "  I 
long  to  live  to  see  this  mission  to  India  firmly  estab- 
lished T' 

Next  morning  they  accompanied  us  on  board  the 
ship  at  East  Boston,  and  exactly  at  nine  o'clock  the 
Canada  let  go  her  moorings  and  passed  away  out  on 


84  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

her  eastern  course,  my  wife  and  myself,  and  our  two 
little  ontft,  waving  onr  adieus  from  her  deck.  Up  to 
the  last  Dr.  Durbin  had  hoped  he  would  be  able  to 
send  at  least  one  young  minister  with  me,  but  we 
had  to  go  alone.  He  promised,  however,  to  send  him 
immediately  after  us,  so  that  he  might  overtake  us  in 
London  and  accompany  us  to  India.  But,  for  reasons 
which  are  now  apparent,  God  controlled  all  action  of 
this  kind  till  the  proper  time  had  come  for  sending 
them  after  me.  It  was  an  omen  of  good  to  us,  a  few 
hours  after  leaving  port,  as  we  were  arranging  our 
surroundings  for  the  night,  to  hear  the  sound  of 
prayer  from  the  adjoining  state-room.  Two  voices, 
one  after  the  other,  pleaded  with  God  for  his  provi- 
dential care  over  our  ship  and  all  that  it  contained  ; 
and  they  added,  what  is  so  appropriate  for  Christians 
when  traveling,  that  the  Lord  might  grant  that  they 
should  "grow  in  grace  on  the  voyage,  and  be  brought 
back  again  in  the  possession  of  a  full  salvation."  How 
good  rtmt  sounded,  and  in  such  a  place !  We  soon 
made  the  acquaintance  of  our  praying  neighbors,  and 
found  them  to  be  Methodists  from  Canada.  Their 
fellowship  added  much  to  the  interest  of  the  voyage. 


Fbom  Boston  to  Bareillt.  85 


CHAPTER  III. 

"  But  I  write  the  more  boldly  unto  you  in  some  measure,  as  putting 
you  again  in  remembrance,  because  of  the  grace  that  was  given  me 
of  God,  that  I  should  be  a  minister  of  Christ  Jesus  unto  the  Gentiles. 
.  .  .  Yea,  making  it  my  aim  so  to  preach  tlie  Gospel,  not  where 
Christ  was  already  named,  that  I  might  not  build  upon  another  man's 
foundation ;  but,  as  it  is  written, 

They  shall  see,  to  whom  no  tidings  of  him  came, 
And  they  who  have  not  heard  shall  understand." 

—St.  Paul.    (Rev.  Ver.) 

My  letter  of  instructions,  drawn  by  Dr.  Durbin 
and  countersigned  by  Bishop  Simpson,  directed  me, 
on  our  arrival  in  London,  to  seek  for  all  such  infor- 
mation as  would  be  useful  to  me  in  the  duties  which 
I  had  to  fulfill.  I  found  much  courtesy  from  the  sec- 
retaries of  the  different  missionary  societies  in  that 
city  whom  I  consulted,  especially  in  regard  to  those 
portions  of  India  which  were  as  yet  unoccupied  by  any 
Christian  agency,  as  well  as  about  matters  of  finance, 
administration,  and  missionary  policy,  on  which  I 
needed  information,  so  as  to  be  better  able  to  under- 
stand what  might  occur  in  my  own  administration. 
I  found  among  these  gentlemen  a  hearty  appreciation 
of  the  help  which  America  was  sending  to  aid  them 
in  the  evangelization  of  British  India,  and  fervent 
hopes  were  expressed  that  our  success  might  be  very 
abundant. 


86  Feom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

Dr.  Dnrbin's  solicitude  was  following  us  all  the 
time.  He  "Wrrote  to  me  nine  days  after  I  sailed.  He 
was  evidentl}^  anxious  lest  I  should  become  discour- 
aged by  his  failure  to  lind  at  least  one  man  to  go  on 
with  me  from  London.  I  may  be  excused  in  quoting 
his  words  on  this  subject.     He  says  : 

"  I  hasten  to  say  to  you,  Brother  has  finally 

declined.     I  am  surprised  and  grieved  at  this.    I  have 

w^ritten  to  Brother  ,  but  am  not  sanguine  of  the 

results.  ...  I  will  give  you  a  steady  and  hearty 
support.  Be  of  good  courage,  and  let  those  yet  to 
come  say,  *  William  Butler  founded  this  mission.'  .  .  . 
I  hope  to  see  Bishop  Simpson  next  week  in  Cincin- 
nati, and  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  send  you  two  assistants. 
I  will  in  due  time  look  to  the  interests  of  your  chil- 
dren. Be  of  good  cheer.  Give  our  kind  regards  and 
the  assurance  of  our  prayers  to  Sister  Butler,  and 
may  God  bless  and  preserve  you  all,  and  give  you 
success  in  your  great  undertaking." 

The  solicitude  shown  by  Dr.  Durbin  was  so  often 
and  variously  expressed  that  I  presume  it  was  caused 
by  his  apprehensions  that  our  courage  might  not  be 
fully  sustained  when  we  came  to  face  the  real  difficul- 
ties of  the  heathenism  which  we  were  to  encounter, 
and  especially  being  thus  left  alone  to  face  them,  as, 
also,  that  the  yearnings  of  our  hearts  for  the  darling 
boys  left  behind  in  strange  hands  might  weaken  our 
purpose  to  persevere  in  the  sacrifice  we  had  made.  It 
could  be  no  premonition  of  the  fearful  dangers  into 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  87 

the  midst  of  wliich  we  were  unconsciously  steering. 
But,  I  am  grateful  to  say,  we  felt  no  fear,  nor  did  our 
purpose  falter  for  a*  moment.  The  consecration  to 
our  work  was  complete,  and  our  trust  in  the  care  and 
guidance  of  God  unhesitating. 

Having  completed  our  outfit  of  books  and  clothing 
in  London,  and  gained  all  the  information  available, 
we  left  Southampton  docks  on  the  20th  of  August, 
1856,  in  the  steam-ship  Pera^  and,  when  a  few  miles 
down  the  Solent,  we  met  and  passed  the  consort  ves- 
sel of  the  same  line,  the  Eijpon^  just  arriving  from 
Calcutta.  The  news  was  passed  around  that  "  she 
had  on  board  the  Dowager  Queen  of  Oude."  Beyond 
the  singularity  of  the  fact  that  this  was  the  first 
time  an  Indian  queen  had  ever  crossed  the  ocean,  we 
paid  no  heed  to  her  coming  to  London.  But  how 
much  the  eye  of  God  above  saw  in  the  fact,  as  we 
passed  her,  is  intimated  in  the  L(jmd  of  the  Veda.  I 
had  left  behind  me  in  London,  Azeemoolah,  the  vakeel 
of  the  Nana  Sahib,  and  he  and  she  represented  the 
two  forces  that  were  so  soon  to  combine,  and,  with 
fire  and  blood,  to  render  my  mission  nugatory,  by 
sweeping  every  thing  English  and  Christian  from  the 
soil  of  India  !  Before  I  reached  Alexandria  they  had 
both  received  the  refusal  of  the  English  government 
to  their  proposals,  and  soon  returned  to  India  to 
work  out  the  fanatical  purposes  which  they  had  so 
cleverly  concealed  from  those  with  whom  they  had 
been  negotiating. 


88  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

After  crossing  the  Bay  of  Biscay  and  passing  the 
Pillars  of  Hercules,  we  reached  smoother  water,  and 
social  intercourse  began.  At  that  time  Bishop  Co- 
lenso's  vagaries  were  subjects  of  discussion,  especially 
his  pamphlet  about  polygamy  being  scriptural,  so  that 
he  declared  he  would  admit  to  the  Church  and  to  the 
communion  table  a  convert  from  heathenism,  with  all 
his  wives  !  He  berated  the  missionaries  for  declining 
to  accept  his  doctrine  or  follow  his  lead.  Some  of 
our  gentlemen  passengers  undertook  to  defend  the 
Bishop's  views,  and  we  had  a  lively  discussion  over 
the  subject  until  it  was  closed  by  one  of  our  number 
pressing  the  gentleman  who  defended  the  abomina- 
tion with  the  legitimate  result  of  it,  and  demanding 
to  know  why  polyandry  should  exclude  from  the 
table  of  the  Lord  if  polygamy  did  not  ?  If  the  right 
to  communion  was  conceded  to  a  man  with  his  four 
or  five  wives,  why  not  to  a  woman  with  her  four  or 
five  husbands  ?  Both  unnatural  and  guilty  conditions 
exist  in  India,  though  the  latter  is  coming  to  an  end. 
But  here  our  opponent  backed  out,  with  the  easy 
remark,  "  O  that  is  a  different  thing,"  and  there  the 
discussion  ended. 

We  have  abundant  reason  to  be  grateful  that  our 
mission  from  the  very  first,  in  common  with  evangel- 
ical missions,  has  made  no  compromise  with  sin,  but 
has  taken  the  high  scriptural  ground  on  this  question, 
as  well  as  on  that  of  caste,  and  has  thus  preserved 
the  peace  and  the  purity  of  its  churches. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  89 

An  old  traveler  like  myself,  moving  across  the 
world  in  tliese  days,  is  constantly  reminded  of  the 
changes  and  improvements  that  are  taking  place,  and 
which  are  qnietly  revolutionizing  the  civilization  and 
methods  in  which  people  had  such  confidence  only  a 
few  years  ago.  How  easy  it  would  be  to  note  scores 
and  hundreds  of  these  facts,  but  our  limits  forbid  re- 
ferring to  them,  except  very  occasionally,  in  view  of 
the  more  important  matters  for  which  our  pages  are 
reserved.  This  modern  idea  of  iron  ships,  which  are 
steered  so  accurately  by  steam  instead  of  the  weak 
human  hand — the  loading  and  unloading — the  trim- 
ming of  sails — the  weighing  of  the  anchor— all  done 
so  easily  by  the  same  mighty  agency,  and  thus  reduc- 
ing the  number  of  men  necessary  to  work  a  vessel  to 
about  one  lialf  of  those  formerly  required,  stands 
prominently  out  among  tliese  groat  improvements. 
Formerly  England  boasted  of  her  "  wooden  walls," 
the  "  hearts  of  oak,"  of  which  her  men-of-war  and 
her  merchant  marine  were  made.  But  her  poets  no 
longer  sing,  as  Pope  did  in  days  of  yore, 

"Let  India  boast  her  palms,  nor  envy  we 
The  weeping  amber  and  the  balmy  tree, 
While  by  our  oaks  the  precious  loads  are  borne, 
And  realms  commandod  which  those  trees  adorn." 

The  gigantic  strength  and  remarkable  longevity  of 
this  pride  of  the  British  forests,  which  has  done  so 
much  for  England's  exaltation  among  the  nations,  is 


90  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

landed  by  Dryden  with  equal  coinplacencj,  when  lie 
writes : 

"  The  monarch  oak,  the  patriarch  of  the  trees, 
Shoots  rising  up,  and  spreads  by  slow  degrees; 
Three  centuries  he  grows,  and  three  he  stays 
Supreme  in  state,  and  in  three  more  decays." 

But  were  these  two  poets  to  rise  from  the  dead,  few 
things  would  amaze  them  more  than  to  find  how 
nearly  antiquated  these  objects  of  their  boastings 
have  become ;  nor  would  they  be  less  amazed  on  be- 
holding the  colossal  proportions  and  rapid  speed  of 
the  iron  structures  which  have  superseded  their  be- 
loved but  slow-saihng  and  diminutive  "oaks." 

On  the  morning  of  the  fifteenth  day  we  cast  anchor 
in  the  harbor  of  Alexandria,  and  here  begins  at 
once  that  capability  of  comparison  and  contrast  which 
a  former  visit,  at  an  interval  of  twenty-seven  years, 
enables  us  to  make  from  this  onward,  showing  tliat, 
not  merely  in  progressive  America,  but  even  in  the 
sluggisli  and  conservative  East,  the  spirit  of  improve- 
ment is  abroad,  and  the  world  is  being  lifted  up  to  a 
better  life ;  that  even  wars  and  commotions,  commer- 
cial rivalry  and  the  love  of  gain,  are  all  made  tributary 
by  the  Almiglity  providence  in  bringing  forward  that 
better  state  of  things  for  which  good  men  have  been 
so  long  praying,  and  which  together  constitute  the 
beneficent  dawn  of  that  day  when  the  sun  of  right- 
eousness shall  rise  on  every  land,  "  with  healing  in  his 
wings,"  bringing  peace  to  earth  and  good-will  to  men. 


Fjrom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  91 

No  item  of  truth  or  blessing  can  ever  be  perma- 
nently lost  to  this  world  while  God  governs  it.  Its 
advocates  may  die,  and  its  example  and  facts  pass 
from  the  memory  of  living  men,  but  the  guardianship 
of  God  will  be  over  its  life  and  its  future,  and,  like 
tlie  grain  in  the  hand  of  the  mummies  of  this  land, 
the  sunlight,  and  "the  scent  of  water,"  will  revive 
the  power  that  has  lain  dormant  for  a  thousand  years, 
while  a  harvest  of  good,  that  might  fill  the  world 
with  fruit,  may  spring  forth  from  it.  One  of  these 
seeds  was  planted  in  this  city  over  eighteen  hundred 
years  ago,  and  was  soon  afterward  lost  to  view.  But 
its  feeble  tradition  came  down  the  ages  to  the  times 
of  John  Wesley,  and  his  earnest  and  practical  mind 
saw,  in  the  constitution  of  the  Church  of  Alexandria, 
a  primitive  episcopacy  that  was  safe,  and  free  from 
all  sacerdotalism  and  prelacy,  deriving  its  just  powers 
from  a  synod  of  presbyters,  whose  executive  it  was, 
primus  inter  spares.  He  saw  and  approved  that 
efficient  and  brotherly  idea  of  the  Christian  ministry, 
and  resolved  to  plant  it  in  the  virgin  soil  of  the  New 
World.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  is  the  har- 
vest that  has  grown  from  that  Egyptian  seed.  No 
"lordship  over  God's  heritage  " — no  ecclesiastical  des- 
potism or  hierarchal  assumptions — can  flourish  in  its 
presence. 

Had  Alexandria  only  been  faithful  to  the  divine 
idea,  her  glory  would  not  have  departed ;  nor  would 
the  crescent  of    the  Arabian  antichrist  be   floating 


02  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

to-day  from  her  flag-staffs,  the  symbol  of  a  nation  that 
has,  in  the  just  judgment  of  God,  sunk  to  be  "  the 
basest  of  kingdoms."  One  of  her  presbyters  apos- 
tatized from  Trinitarian  Christianity,  broke  the  peace 
of  God  in  Christendom,  and  introduced  the  heresy 
that  still  bears  his  name.  Mohammedanism  came  in 
and  dominated  over  a  Christianity  once  so  glorious 
in  faith  and  government,  but  which  had  then  sunk  so 
low  as  to  deny  the  divinity  of  "  the  Lord  that  bought 
them."  The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ouglit,  ere 
long,  to  plant  again  in  Alexandria  tlie  polity  which 
she  there  found,  and  the  faith  "  once  delivered  to  the 
saints,"  which  would  soon  restore  Egypt  to  God,  and 
fulfill  the  merciful  predictions  which  the  Lord  Jeho- 
vah has  left  to  her  as  "  a  door  of  hope."  He  has 
expressly  declared,  "  For  they  shall  cry  unto  the  Lord 
because  of  the  oppressors,  and  he  shall  send  them  a 
saviour,  and  a  great  one,  and  he  shall  deliver  them. 
And  the  Lord  shall  smite  Egypt :  he  shall  smite  and 
heal  it :  and  they  shall  return  even  to  the  Lord,  and 
he  shall  be  entreated  of  them,  and  shall  heal  them." 
"  Princes  shall  come  out  of  Egypt ;  Ethiopia  shall  soon 
stretch  out  her  hands  unto  God."  (Isa.  xix,  20,  22 ; 
Psa.  Ixvii,  31.)  How  severely  she  has  been  smitten, 
during  the  past  two  thousand  years,  is  well  known. 
But  the  tide  has  turned  at  last.  The  "  healing  "  pro- 
cess has  begun.  Across  her  territory  now  runs  the  over- 
land route  to  India.  Telegraphs  and  railroads  stretch 
through  her  great  valley.     Her  Suez  Canal  bears  the 


FiiOM  Boston  to  Bareilly.  93 

immense  commerce  of  the  Eastern  world,  the  Fresh 
Water  Canal  is  extending  irrigation  and  fertility  to 
the  south.  Schools  and  Christian  missions  have 
come  in  to  consummate  the  blessed  cure,  and  God 
has  taken  guarantees,  through  her  debt  and  the  conse- 
quent English  influence,  with  its  control  of  Moham- 
medan despotism,  that  the  fanaticism  of  her  cruel 
creed  shall  not  arrest  the  healing  effects  which  Chris- 
tianity has  introduced.  No  land  has  known  deeper 
guilt  before  God,  or  passed  through  severer  punish- 
ment for  it ;  and,  doubtless,  we  may  expect  that  the 
mercy  and  grace  predicted  for  her  "  will  much  more 
abound ; "  for  He,  whose  promises  are  as  certain  as  his 
threatenings,  has  predicted  concerning  her,  "  Whom 
tlie  Lord  of  hosts  shall  bless,  saying.  Blessed  be  Egypt, 
my  people." 

!N'early  all  these  evidences  of  the  transition  which  is 
now  passing  over  the  land  of  the  Nile  hav€  been  in- 
augurated since  we  were  here  before,  and  the  increase 
of  population  under  this  improvement  is  remarkable. 
In  Egypt  propel*,  without  her  dependencies,  there 
were,  according  to  the  census  in  1847,  a  population 
of  4,542,620 ;  in  1875  there  were  5,500,000,  but  Sir 
Auckland  Colin's  census,  taken  last  year,  gives 
6,798,230.  Cairo  has  now  a  population  of  368,108  ; 
Alexandria,  208,775  ;  Port  Said,  16,560 ;  and  Suez, 
10,913.  This  advance  intimates  a  great  future  ;  while 
her  fertility  can  again  be  made  what  it  was  when 
Rome  conquered  Egypt  to  make  it  the  granary  of 


94  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

Southern  Europe.  It  may  be  tliat  more  than  lier  for- 
mer glorj  awaits  tins  land,  once  the  cradle  of  arts  and 
sciences,  when  she  shall  "  rise  and  shine  "  because  her 
light  has  come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  has  risen 
upon  her. 

In  1856,  w^hen  we  left  Alexandria  for  Cairo,  to 
cross  the  desert  to  Suez,  they  were  making  the  last 
section  of  the  railroad.  We  rested  midday  for  lunch 
at  the  crossing  of  the  IS^ile — and  that  luncli  was  some- 
thing to  remember,  from  the  swarms  of  flies  which 
surrounded  us.  The  moment  the  cloth  was  lifted  off 
the  food  they  boldly  settled  down  in  millions  upon 
every  morsel  of  it,  until  it  became  black  with  them ! 
They  seemed  fearless,  and  were  not  to  be  wliisked 
away.  We  looked  on  with  amazement,  and  the  ques- 
tion arose.  Was  the  fourth  plague  of  Egypt  reinflict- 
ed  ?  We  had  evidence  enough  that  the  third  had 
never  been  removed.  But  those  flies !  only  by  the 
most  desperate  efforts  could  the  hungry  crowd  of  pas- 
sengers secure  their  food,  cutting  it  up  as  hastily  as 
possible,  and  then,  while  the  left  hand  was  kept  busy 
fanning  them  off  the  plate,  the  other  conveyed  the 
morsels  to  the  mouth  ;  and,  even  then,  the  nasty  gray 
pests  dared  to  follow  the  food  to  the  very  lips.  Tlie 
poor  children,  not  as  active  as  their  elders  in  manag- 
ing matters,  cried  with  vexation.  It  was  truly  a  mis- 
erable meal.  What  made  the  aspect  more  repulsive 
was  the  constant  presence  of  ophthalmia  ;  every  third 
person  seemed  to  have  it.     It  was  fearful  to  see  the 


Fbom  Boston  to  Baeetlly.  95 

native  children,  as  they  were  carried  astride  the  shoul- 
ders of  their  careless  and  dirty  mothers,  with  these 
abominable  flies  in  a  complete  black  circle  round  each 
eye,  sucking  the  edge  of  the  lid  ;  and  then  to  think 
how  easily  the  terrible  and  painful  disease  could  be 
spread  from  one  to  another  by  the  feet  of  these  active 
agents  of  filth  and  impurity  !  How  truly  expressive 
was  the  divine  description  that  came  to  our  remem- 
brance there,  "  The  land  was  corrupted  by  reason  of 
the  swarms  of  flies." 

Christian  purity  alone  can  deliver  Egypt  from  the 
burden  of  this  and  the  other  plague.  Mohammed- 
anism and  heathenism  cannot  and  does  not,  either 
here  or  anywhere  else.  Poor  Egypt !  she  needs  the 
cleanliness  which  only  godliness  can  give  her. 

Another  relic  of  the  past  was  before  us  as  we  sat 
and  fought  for  our  uninviting  food.  Gangs  of  men, 
w^omen,  and  children  were  carrying  clay  on  their 
heads  in  baskets  to  form  the  road-bed  of  the  railway. 
Over  these  was  an  Egyptian  "  task-master,"  dressed 
very  gaudily,  and  in  his  hand  a  whip  with  a  long  lash. 
He  stood  midway  from  where  the  earth  was  taken  up 
to  where  it  was  deposited.  His  eye  was  busy  watch- 
ing every  individual  of  that  toiling  throng,  and  if  he 
saw  one  of  them  lagging  for  a  moment  he  noted  it, 
but  said  nothing  till  that  poor  creature  next  came 
Imrrying  past  him,  when  out  would  fly  that  long  lash, 
winding  around  the  naked  body  and  leaving  its  cruel 
mark.     He  thus  struck  several  of  the  poor  girls,  and 


96  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

kept  them  all  going  in  a  very  lively  fasliion ;  but 
what  abject  fear  and  misery  were  in  their  faces  as 
they  were  thus  driven  in  their  enforced  toil. 

In  some  such  style,  and  not  many  miles  from  this 
very  spot,  about  thirty-four  hundred  years  ago,  might 
be  witnessed  many  similar  ''  task-masters  "  goading  a 
race  of  foreigners  reduced  to  slavery ;  and  "  they  made 
their  lives  bitter  with  hard  bondage,"  till  Abraham's 
God  could  endure  it  no  longer,  and  appeared  for  their 
emancipation.  "  The  Lord  said,  I  have  surely  seen 
the  affliction  of  my  people  which  are  in  Egypt,  and 
have  heard  their  cry  by  reason  of  their  task-masters  ; 
for  I  know  their  sorrows ;  and  I  am  come  down  to 
deliver  them  out  of  the  hand  of  the  Egyptians,"  If 
it  were  proper  to  reserve  sympathy  from  any  who  are 
oppressed — which  it  is  not — it  might  surely  be  done 
here.  These  are  Egyptians,  the  descendants  of  those 
selfish  tyrants  who  grievously  oppressed  their  fellow- 
creatures  ;  but  now  their  own  turn  has  come,  and  Abra- 
ham Lincoln's  doctrine  receives  another  illustration, 
so  that  every  groan  and  drop  of  blood  drawn  by  the  lash 
of  those  primitive  slaveholders  from  the  bodies  of  the 
Hebrew  race  has  been  answered  by  another  from  the 
bodies  of  their  own  descendants  by  tlie  despots  of  the 
past  and  the  dynasty  of  the  present,  these  Albanian 
foreigners,  who  all  alike  have  pursued  their  own  ag- 
grandizement by  enforced  labor,  and  by  loading  the 
long-suffering  nation  with  debts  that  seem  too  colossal 
for  redemption  under  their  present  miserable  civili- 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  97 

zation.  But  if  Christian  lionestj  can  obtain  a  fair 
cliance  to  free  these  finances  from  the  control  of  the 
debauched  and  self -aggrandizing  hands  which  have  so 
long  manipulated  tliem,  Egypt's  credit  may  rise  again, 
and  her  afflicted  people  be  lightened  of  their  load. 

That  evening  after  sunset  we  entered  "  Grand 
Cairo,"  as  it  used  to  be  called.  How  quickly  we 
realized  that  we  were  then  standing  in  "  The  Gate  of 
the  Orient,"  and  amid  the  scenes  where  the  "Arabian 
Nights'  Entertainments  "  originated !  Early  the  fol- 
lowing morning,  as  we  came  out  on  the  balcony  of  the 
hotel,  that  wonderful  vision,  which  h  never  forgotten 
by  any  who  is  privileged  to  see  it,  rose  up  before  us, 
for  there  were  the  Pyramids  !  Old  Egypt  was  looking 
us  in  the  face,  or,  as  Napoleon  I.  put  it,  as  his  army 
halted  beneath  their  shadows  :  "  Soldiers,  forty  cent- 
uries are  gazing  down  upon  you  !  "  But  our  visit  to 
them  had  to  come  at  a  later  date,  and  when  we  had 
more  leisure  to  enjoy  it. 

At  eight  o'clock  A.  M.  we  had  to  start  on  our  jour- 
ney across  the  desert,  eighty-four  miles  to  Suez  on 
the  Ked  Sea.  The  camels,  bearing  the  mails,  the 
specie,  and  passengers'  luggage  (for  freight  then 
went  round  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  in  sailing  ves- 
sels), had  left  twenty-four  hours  in  advance  of  us, 
and  were  now  ahead. 

Our  passenger  caravan  was  made  up  of  a  long  line 
of  two-wheeled  shigrams,  each  holding  about  six  per- 
sons.   The  long  pole  was  swung  upon  the  w^heelcrs. 


98  Feom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

four  mules  were  attached,  and  these  were  kept  at  a 
moderate  gallop,  so  that  the  wheels  might  sink  as 
little  as  possible  in  the  sand  (for  road  there  was 
none).  But  how  can  one  do  justice  to  this  peculiar 
equipage  and  its  effects  upon  the  passengers !  It  was 
not  quite  as  bad  as  riding  upon  a  camel,  but  it  was 
tlie  next  thing  to  that,  with  some  inconveniences  of 
its  own  added.  The  tall  wheels  flung  up  the  sand 
and  dust  in  a  flying  cloud  that  half  suffocated  us; 
then  the  vehicle  rose  and  fell  with  the  movement  of 
the  wheel  mules,  and  swayed  from  side  to  side  by  its 
own  momentum.  Add  the  heat  of  early  September 
in  the  desert  to  this,  and  our  condition  may  be  im- 
agined. We  endured  it  as  well  as  we  could  till  we 
suddenly  drew  up  under  a  tree,  an  acacia,  called  "  the 
desert-tree,"  positively  the  only  tree  between  Cairo 
and  Suez,  and  this  was  half-way.  The  lunch  was 
laid  out  for  us,  and,  now  that  the  disagreeable  double 
motion  had  ceased,  and  the  dust  no  longer  rose,  and 
the  wretched  flies  were  forty  miles  behind  us,  with 
the  delightful  air  of  the  desert,  so  elastic  and  inspir- 
ing, we  felt  disposed  to  improve  the  opportunity  with 
which  our  hosts,  the  Peninsular  and  Oriental  Com- 
pany, had  provided  us.  They  showed  that,  by  the 
aid  of  six  patient  camels  which  had  gone  ahead  of  us, 
they  could  "  spread  a  table  in  the  wilderness."  There 
was  not  an  object  in  sight  all  round  to  the  horizon, 
save  the  long  line  of  camels  which  we  had  passed  a 
few  minutes  before,  and  the  Khedive's  palace  half  a 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  99 

mile  to  the  left.  His  highness  had  taken  a  notion 
some  time  before  to  have  a  palace  in  the  desert,  where 
he  could  have  perfect  solitude  when  he  chose.  But 
every  item  of  it,  stones  and  all,  had  to  be  carried 
across  a  trackless  waste  of  sand,  over  the  intervening 
forty -four  miles!  Yet  it  was  done,  and  finished  in 
grand  style,  and  when  completed  it  was  soon  almost 
forgotten  by  the  man  at  whose  order  the  immense 
expense  was  incurred.  The  people  to  be  pitied  are 
the  servants  who  are  left  in  charge  of  this  palace. 
They  might  as  well  be  behind  iron  bars  as  there. 
Far  better  to  be  on  Alexander  Selkirk's  island,  for 
there  they  could  walk  about  and  see  something  green, 
but  these  wretched  prisoners  have  only  that  one  tree 
to  look  at,  and  probably  could  not  find  their  way  over 
those  sands  to  either  Cairo  or  Suez  without  a  guide. 

As  we  sat  at  our  meal  the  long  line  of  camels  came 
up  and  passed  on  with  their  burdens.  Each  group 
was  in  the  special  care  of  a  responsible  sheik,  with 
drivers  under  him.  How  that  cavalcade  recalled 
the  description  of  the  "Midianite  merchantmen"  to 
whom  Joseph  was  sold  to  be  carried  into  this  very 
Egypt. 

We  had  the  curiosity  to  count  the  camels  as  they 
passed  by,  and  found  there  were  seven  hundred  of 
them — yet  there  was  not  a  pound  of  freight,  nothing 
but  passengers,  luggage,  the  mail  bags,  and  the  specie 
— "  pieces  of  silver,"  truly.  Eor  nearly  all  this  half 
century,  the  silver  dug  in  the  mines  of  Mexico  has 


100  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

gone  regularly  once  a  montli  (now  fortnightly)  to 
London,  where  it  is  purchased  and  sent  on  to  the  East 
for  exchange.  It  is  minted  again  in  Calcutta  for  use 
in  India,  and  the  rest  goes  farther  east,  where,  being 
already  known,  they  are  valued  above  all  other  silver 
coins;  so  that  Mexico  supplies  India,  China,  and 
Japan  with  their  currency.  Bank-notes  were  then 
unknown  in  India,  and  gold  is  doubted  by  a  people 
without  education,  and  who  fear  being  deceived,  but 
silver  they  think  they  are  safe  in  accepting,  and  all 
payments  must  be  made  in  that  metal  to  the  multi- 
tudes. Our  seven  hundred  camels  were  all  needed, 
and  it  is  likely  there  was  over  a  million  dollars  in 
that  caravan.  What  a  prize  for  the  wild  Bedouins  to 
swoop  down  upon!  But  the  East  India  Company 
(for  the  miserable  Turkish  government  could  not  hold 
them  in  check  for  a  single  week),  by  the  concession  of 
a  sort  of  blackmail,  and  employing  the  very  sheiks 
themselves,  at  a  constant  compensation,  to  guide  this 
treasure  to  Suez,  makes  it  more  profitable  to  them  to 
be  honest  than  to  live  by  plunder. 

After  an  hour's  rest  we  started  again,  but  found 
that  the  motion  (as  in  palanquin  riding)  was  much 
more  disagreeable  after  eating  than  before.  As  the 
time  rolled  on  the  effects  grew  worse,  until  the  sys- 
tem became  disagreeably  relaxed,  and  we  learned  the 
full  meaning  of  "  the  desert  sickness  " — in  some  re- 
spects worse  than  that  endured  at  sea.  How  we 
longed  for  Suez  and  a  glass  of  water!     At  length. 


Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  101 

as  the  sun  began  to  decline,  we  saw  tlie  little  town 
ahead,  and  the  Ked  Sea  beyond  it.  Sweeping  round, 
we  passed  "Joseph's  Well,"  and  in  a  few  minutes 
more  drew  up  at  the  door  of  the  hotel.  Instantly 
came  the  cry  for  "  water."  Every  one  pleaded  for 
it,  and  especially  the  ladies  of  the  party.  I  hur- 
ried up  the  Egyptian  waiter,  and  the  precious 
fluid  came,  and  was  poured  out  and  handed.  But  O 
such  water  for  sick  people !  It  was  muddy  and 
tepid,  and  was  promptly  rejected,  and  the  man 
abked  how  he  could  offer  such  water  to  ladies.  He 
declared  he  had  no  other.  I  insisted  he  must  run  to 
the  well  we  had  passed  and  bring  a  fresli  supply  that 
would  be  cool  and  nice.     But  he  answered, 

"  Sir,  that  water  is  not  fresh,  it  is  brackish." 

"  Well,  go  where  this  came  from  and  bring  some 
of  that,  and  be  alive  about  it." 

The  poor  fellow  looked  at  me  and  replied, 

"  Why,  sir,  there  is  no  fresh  water  here  ;  not  a 
drop." 

Amazed,  I  asked  him, 

"  Then  where  did  you  get  thiSy- which  is  fresh,  if  it 
is  not  drinkable  ? " 

"  Sir,  it  came  from  the  Nile." 

"How?" 

"  In  skin  bottles,  on  the  backs  of  camels." 

No  wonder  it  was  muddy  and  warm,  and  that  our 
desire  for  such  a  beverage  ceased  at  once.  Such  was 
Suez  in  1856,  and  such  the  supply  of  one  of  life's 


102  Feom  BosToi^  TO  Bareilly. 

first  necessities  for  tlie  sixteen  hundred  people  then 
residing  there.  'Not  a  drop  of  fresh  water  wil:hin 
more  than  eighty  miles,  and  the  whole  of  that  dis- 
tance a  bed  of  hot  and  trackless  sand,  across  which 
these  skin  "  bottles  "  had  toiled  for  four  days,  in  the 
raging  heat,  on  the  camels'  backs. 

In  approaching  Alexandria  I  intimated  that  even 
the  sluggish  and  conservative  East  was  feeling  the 
thrill  of  our  Christian  civilization,  and  beginning  to 
rise  from  the  misery  and  helplessness  of  the  long- 
suffering  past.  What  an  illustration  of  this  does 
Suez  itself  present  on  this  second  visit  of  ours.  Now 
we  return,  and  Suez  has  risen  to  the  rank  of  a  little 
city,  with  its  ten  thousand  nine  hundred  and  twelve 
people,  and  gardens  and  orchards  are  flourishing.  A 
railway  connects  it  with  Alexandria  and  Cairo,  and 
piers  and  docks  and  light-house  have  risen,  as  by 
magic,  out  of  the  barren  sands.  The  Suez  Canal  now 
connects  the  waters  of  the  Mediterranean  with  those 
of  the  Eed  Sea,  and  ships  of  various  nations  pass 
Suez  almost  every  hour  between  sunrise  and  sunset. 
That  canal  is  yielding  its  stockholders  the  largest 
dividends  of  any  enterprise  on  earth.  The  steamer 
in  which  we  sailed,  drawing  twenty-seven  feet  and 
nine  inches,  pays  over  £1,100  toll  ($5,500)  each  time 
she  goes  through  it.  To  crown  all,  the  same  Chris- 
tian civilization  has  dug  a  second  canal  beside  the 
first  to  lead  in  the  fresh  water,  so  that  tlie  excellent 
water  of  the  Nile  now  flows  in  abundance  the  whole 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  103 

way  to  Suez,  and  is  beginning  to  "  make  tlie  desert 
blossom  as  the  rose."  These  facts  amaze  these  Ish- 
maelite  races,  and  well  they  may,  for  tliey  are  the 
miracles  of  modern  civilization,  of  which  Moham- 
medanism and  heathenism  never  dreamed,  and  of 
which  they  are,  and  would  always  remain,  destitute, 
if  the  races  that  have  accepted  "  the  Prophet  of  Naz- 
areth "  did  not  come  and  originate  them. 

"What  a  world  this  could  be  made,  and  will  be 
made,  if  Christianity  gets  control  of  it !  Surely 
paradise  can  be  restored.  It  has  not  been  in  vain 
that  humanity  has  waited  long  for  Christian  civiliza- 
tion to  appear  and  end  her  religious  uncertainties,  to 
give  her  peace,  and  terminate  all  her  preventable  sor- 
rows. How  these  scenes  here  prove  that  Christianity 
has  the  "  promise  of  the  life  which  now  is,"  and  as  well 
as  of  "  that  which  is  to  come."  Even  here,  on  this, 
the  most  forbidding  and  difficult  spot  on  earth,  she 
has  conquered  deficiencies  of  nature  that  seemed  in- 
surmountable ;  and,  even  in  a  temporal  sense,  fulfilled 
the  promise  of  Jehovah :  "  I  give  waters  in  the  wil- 
derness, and  rivers  in  tlie  desert,  to  give  drink  to  my 
people,  my  chosen."  He  did  so,  without  the  aid  of 
science,  over  three  thousand  years  ago,  across  in  that 
very  peninsula,  in  view  of  where  these  notes  were 
taken,  opening  a  living  stream  in  that  desert  for 
their  use ;  and  a  traveler,  as  he  goes  over  the  world, 
sees  that,  in  proportion  as  men  are  "  His  chosen " 
people,  he  grants  them  the  inspirations  of  sanctified 


104  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

intelligence  to  benefit  themselves,  and  to  bless  the 
world  around  them.  So,  that,  when  false  religions 
fold  their  hands  and  despairingly  accept  as  inevitable 
the  miseries  of  life,  our  civilization,  full  of  expe- 
dients born  of  hope  and  faith, 

''  Laughs  at  impossibilities, 
And  cries,  It  shall  be  done." 

Thus,  in  cases  like  this,  she  builds  her  reservoirs,  digs 
her  canals,  or  sinks  her  artesian  wells,  and  so  unseals 
the  rich  supplies  which  make  famines  impossible,  and 
causes  the  valleys  to  sing  for  joy.  She  then  creates 
the  railroad,  and  carries  the  superabundance  to  the 
destitute  parts  of  the  land,  keeps  down  famine  prices, 
and  lets  the  hungry  be  fed. 

These  Mohammedans  here,  if  their  liouse  takes 
fire,  will  run  out  with  a  yell,  sit  right  down  on 
the  ground  before  it  in  despair,  and  helplessly  look 
on,  abandoned  to  the  conviction  that,  "  if  it  was  pre- 
destined to  be  consumed,  there  is  no  use  resisting 
fate.  Let  it  burn."  Christianity,  on  the  contrary, 
implants  different  impulse.  She  invents  the  steam 
fire  engine,  and  the  electric  bell,  and  when  the  flame 
breaks  out,  the  Christian  runs  and  tnrns  on  the  alarm, 
so  help  is  at  his  door  in  five  minutes,  and  life  and 
property  are  saved.  The  other  civilization  is  not 
worthy  to  live.  It  is  doomed  to  die,  and  Christianity 
alone  deserves  to  be  exalted  in  the  earth ;  yet  these 
are  but  a  part  of  that  mighty  measure  of  blessings 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  105 

for  body  and  soul,  for  things  temporal  and  spiritual, 
for  the  poor  and  downtrodden,  which  the  true  sons 
of  God  are  toiling  and  contending  to  win  for  our 
race,  in  order  to  make  them  all  the  common  heritajre 
of  every  creature  under  heaven.  Such  men  fling 
trembling  cowardice  and  inglorious  ease  to  the  winds, 
and  know  well  whose  they  are  and  whom  they  serve. 
And,  as  sure  as  God  is  God,  they  will  never  relax 
their  diligence  till  the  work  is  done,  and  their  disin- 
terested devotion  is  crowned  with  universal  victory. 
Well  may  they  continue  to  challenge  each  other's 
valor  in  the  unflinching  conviction  that  "  the  great- 
ness of  the  kingdom  under  the  whole  heaven  shall  be 
given  to  .  .  .  the  saints  of  the  Most  High,"  and  sing, 
as  they  do : 

"  0,  who  would  not  a  champion  be 

In  tliis  the  lordlier  chivalry  ? 

Uprouse  ye,  then,  brave  brother  band, 

With  honest  heart  and  working  hand ; 

0,  there  be  those  wlio  ache  to  see 

The  day-dawn  of  our  victory: 

Work,  brothers,  work  ;  work  hand  and  brain ; 

We'll  win  the  golden  age  again. 

We  will,  we  will,  brave  champions  be 

In  this  the  lordlier  chivalry." 

In  this  blessed  expectation  all  good  men  have  been 
toiling  and  struggling,  but  have  died  ere  the  fruition 
came,  thougb  they  exulted  to  witness  every  element 
in  motion,  material  as  well  as  intellectual  and  spir- 
itual, that  seemed  to  tend  to  that  grand  result.    We, 


106  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

to-daj,  in  our  wider  opportunity,  are  the  inheritors  of 
the  past,  and  yet  heirs  of  all  the  future.  For  we 
are  reaping  where  they  have  sown ;  and  in  this  sense, 
too,  may  it  be  said,  "  God  having  provided  some 
better  thing  for  us,  that  they  without  us  should  not 
be  made  perfect." 

But,  let  us  return  to  the  poor  helpless  waiter  who 
stood  there  with  that  rejected  water-jar  and  the  gob- 
lets in  his  hands.  He  and  his  brothers  of  the  desert 
might  think  this  good  enough ;  possibly  not  one  of 
them  had  ever  tasted  of  "  a  living  spring "  or  of 
"water  out  of  the  stony  rock."  But  we  had,  and 
knew  by  experience  what  it  was,  and  that  this  was 
not  at  all  like  it;  yet  what  could  we  do  in  that  dry 
and  thirsty  land,  where  no  water  then  was?  'No 
wonder  the  Holy  Scriptures — an  Oriental  book,  and 
full  of  Eastern  scenes  and  allusions — speaks  so  fre- 
quently and  so  feelingly,  too,  of  the  need  and  value 
of  this  precious  element,  or  that  our  blessed  Lord 
puts  the  "cup  of  cold  water"  among  the  charities 
that  he  will  reward  at  last.  (Matt,  x,  42.)  The 
people  of  India  call  the  water-carrier  a  BihishtL 
from  Bihisht,  paradise ;  a  beautiful  name  for  his 
vocation,  styling  him  a  distributer  of  heaven's 
bounty!  How  gladly  we  would  have  recognized  his 
title  had  he  put  in  an  appearance  at  that  hour 
with  his  mashk  of  clear  cool  water  from  a  Bareilly 
well! 

But  to  sit  there  any  longer,  and  be  tantalized  by 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  107 

the  sight  of  that  jar  of  muddy,  lukewarm  water,  was 
too  much  for  our  sick  and  feverish  condition,  so,  in 
hope  of  finding  something  more  suitable  on  board 
our  steamer,  we  took  up  our  hand  baggage,  and 
started  for  the  pier,  w^here  the  little  tender  was  wait- 
ing to  convey  us  three  miles  down  the  Eed  Sea,  to 
wliere  the  great  vessel  lay  at  anchor.  The  tender 
seemed  to.  take  us  very  slowly ;  but,  at  length,  w^e 
reached  there  and  hurried  up  the  ladder,  for  the  mo- 
ment forgetting  the  water,  in  our  anxiety  to  secure 
state-rooms  equivalent  in  position  to  those  which 
w^e  occupied  on  board  the  consort  ship,  which  we 
left  at  Alexandria. 

As  we  hurried  into  the  saloon  in  this  search,  what 
was  our  surprise  and  deh'ght  to  see,  standing  before 
us  on  the  table,  an  immense  glass  basin,  heaped  up 
with  broken  ice  from  Wenham  Lake,  and  round  it 
stood  decanters  full  of  Ganges  water,  with  tumblers 
all  ready,  and  a  man  waiting  to  serve.  Bihishti, 
"  Heaven's  bounty "  truly !  The  packages  were 
.pitched  into  the  corner,  state-rooms  were  forgotten, 
and  a  grand  rush  made  by  tliat  ravenous  crowd  for 
the  blessed  beverage,  provided  so  opportunely  for  us. 
It  was  a  sight  to  see  that  crowd  as  they  stood  round, 
and  with  radiant  faces,  imbibed  "  heaven's  nectar,"  as 
they  styled  it. 

But  wliat  a  meeting  of  the  past  and  present  was 
here,  and  what  would  Moses  and  the  elders  of  Israel 
have  said  if  the  scene  liad  been  foretold  to  them ! 


108  Feom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

That,  thirty  three  hundred  years  after  tliey  had 
crossed  through  this  sea,  a  great  vessel  of  over  four 
thousand  tons  would  lie  at  anchor  about,  or  not  far 
from,  the  very  place  where  they  had  crossed,  and  that 
on  board  of  her  would  be  white-faced  strangers  fi'om 
a  continent  of  whose  existence  they  were  entirely 
ignorant,  but  who  would  there  be  regaled  with  water 
(not  from  the  l^ile,  or  the  Jordan,  the  nearest  rivers, 
but)  from  the  Ganges,  of  which  they  never  heard,  and 
that  that  water  would  be  cooled  by  an  article  wliich 
they  never  saw,  solidified  water,  that  would  melt 
away  in  an  hour  if  exposed  to  such  air,  and  yet  that 
perishable  article  would  have  preceded  them  from 
their  distant  land  a  year  before  they  left  it  and  have 
gone  twice  under  the  equator,  on  its  way  to  Calcutta, 
and  again  on  its  return,  to  meet  them  there,  in  the 
Gulf  of  Suez,  so  that  it  would  have  touched  the  line 
for  the  third  time,  and  yet  be  in  splendid  condition 
for  their  use  after  its  long  travel  of  twenty  thousand 
miles !  What  a  miracle  of  the  future  civilization  of 
the  world  would  they  have  esteemed  all  this  to  be ! 
The  manna  in  the  wilderness  would  hardly  have  been 
more  wonderful  than  that  congealed  water  on  the 
E-ed  Sea. 

The  "  Tudor  Ice  Company,*'  of  Boston,  conferred 
this  boon  upon  India  and  the  East,  and,  in  blessing 
others,  were  themselves  blessed  with  a  generous  rec- 
ompense. The  cargo  of  ice  paid  amply  for  the  re- 
turn cargo  of  India's  products.     The  ice  became  not 


Feom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  109 

merely  a  luxury,  but  also  a  medical  agent  in  hospitals, 
many  physicians  holding  it  to  be  a  specific  in  certain 
conditions  of  the  cholera,  and  so  a  help  in  the  saving 
of  hundreds  of  lives  yearly.  Eight  years  after  this  I 
had  an  opportunity  of  testing  its  value,  as  I  lay  pros- 
trate in  an  attack  of  the  Asiatic  cholera  in  the  city  of 
Calcutta.  For  thirty-six  hours  after  the  attack  began 
the  physicians  attending  me  gave  me  nothing  save 
Dr.  Collis  Brown's  Chloriodine  dropped  on  broken 
ice.  The  symptoms  were  controlled,  and  I  was 
saved. 

The  great  ship  weighed  anchor  next  day  and  we 
were  off.  The  following  morning,  while  putting 
things  to  rights  for  the  voyage,  I  was  amazed  to  see 
enter  the  state-room  where  I  was  a  curious  looking 
animal  as  big  as  a  cat,  having  a  bushy  tail  as  long 
as  his  body,  and  a  keen-looking  eye,  with  a  ferret- 
like nose,  as  though  made  for  poking  into  the  narrow 
places.  He  was  perfectly  self-possessed,  but  conde- 
scended to  glance  up  at  me,  with  what  intention  I 
could  not  know  ;  but  I  did  not  like  his  cynical  looks, 
and  so  sprung  on  to  a  chair  and  sung  out  for  the 
steward.  The  man  came  running  to  see  what  was  the 
matter,  when  I  asked  him  what  that  creature  there 
was.     He  smiled  quietly  at  my  alarm  and  said  ; 

"  That,  sir,  is  a  mongoose.  You  need  not  be 
afraid." 

Just  then  the  mate  of  the  mongoose  came  saunter- 
ing in.    But  I  hesitated  to  get  down  on  the  floor  till 


110  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

tlie  man  explained  further.  The  mongoose  is  the 
ichneumon,  and  is  prized  for  its  wonderful  ability  to 
search  out  and  kill  all  sorts  of  snakes,  rats,  and  ver- 
min of  that  class,  which  abound  in  the  East.  People 
in  India  try  to  domesticate  them  for  this  most  useful 
purpose,  but  the  freedom  that  is  necessarily  conceded 
to  them,  proves  too  much  for  their  love  of  perfect 
liberty,  and,  unlike  the  cat,  which  is  true  to  her 
home,  they  wander  at  length  into  the  fields  and  do 
not  return.  On  being  assured  that  these  were  per- 
fectly harmless,  and  even  liked  to  be  noticed,  I  got 
down  and  made  the  acquaintance  of  the  larger  one, 
who  had  no  timidity  at  all.  He  came  on  my  invita- 
tion and  got  up  on  my  lap,  and  when  I  stroked  him 
he  turned  on  his  back,  and  was  as  happy  as  a  kitten. 
But  he  was  a  queer-looking  creature  to  handle,  and 
soon  went  off  to  attend  to  the  duties  expected  of 
him. 

The  Bed  Sea  is  nearly  one  thousand  four  hundred 
miles  long,  and  from  twenty  to  two  hundred  miles 
broad.  I  presume  it  is  the  hottest  locality  on  earth, 
where  even  double  awnings  wont  sufficiently  protect 
you  from  the  fierce  heat  overhead  from  8  A.  M.  till 
evening.  More  invalids  die  in  that  portion  of  the 
voyage  than  in  all  the  rest  of  the  way  from  India  to 
England.  There  are  light-houses  only  so  far  as  the 
English  influence  extends  on  the  Egyptian  side,  but 
on  the  Arabian  side,  and  on  that  of  JSTubia  and  Abys- 
sinia, not  a  light  is  seen;  so  that  for  over  six  huP/ 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  Ill 

dred  miles  the  utmost  precaution  is  necessary  to  es- 
cape the  dangers  which  the  many  islands  and  shoals 
present,  especially  at  night.  Going  down  we  passed 
the  port  for  Medina,  where  Mohammed  died  ;  and 
that  for  Mecca,  toward  which  every  Moslem  sets  his 
face  and  directs  his  prayers  when  he  performs  his 
devotions. 

On  the  right  hand  we  passed  Suakim,  the  port  of 
the  Soudan ;  then  came  to  Mocha,  famed  for  its  cof- 
fee, and  so  on  to  the  Straits  of  Bab-el-Mandeb  (the 
Gate  of  Tears),  so  called  originally,  no  doubt,  from 
the  dangers  of  its  navigation.  "We  saw  four  steamers 
lying  wrecked  here  and  on  the  shores  of  the  island 
of  Perim,  in  the  middle  of  the  passage.  The  voyage 
from  Suez  to  the  Straits  requires  nearly  a  week. 

Shortly  after  leaving  Suez,  the  day  being  clear,  we 
had  a  sight  of  the  range  which  includes  Mount  Sinai, 
on  which  God  came  down  in  such  terrible  majesty  to 
give  his  holy  law  as  the  rule  of  life  to  men.  What 
reflections  that  sight  awakened !  And  now,  as  we 
glide  along  by  this  ever-famous  peninsula,  where 
the  Almighty  required  his  people  to  "remember 
all  the  way  "  which  he  had  led  them  for  forty  years 
in  the  wilderness,  let  us  look  at  this  Letter  of  In- 
structions, and  see  what  is  the  duty  which  will  begin 
in  a  few  days  more,  and  will  soon  tax  heart  and  brain 
in  its  fulfillment  for  Him  whose  awful  second  Com- 
mandment pealed  out  from  this  mount  of  God,  amid 
thunders  and  lightnings,  against  that  fearful  sin  of 


112  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

image-worship  of  the  very  people  to  whom  we  are 
now  going.  They  were  then,  and  they  are  to-day,  tlie 
most  flagrant  transgressors  of  tliis  law  of  that  **  jeal- 
ous God,  who  will  not  give  his  glory  to  another,  nor 
his  praise  to  graven  images ; "  so  that  they  have  con- 
tinued to  multiply  their  "  gods  "  until  they  now  count 
them  by  the  million  ! 
The  letter  thus  opens : 

"  Eev.  "William  Butler  : 

*'  Dear  Brother  :  It  hath  pleased  God,  we  believe, 
to  move  you  by  his  Holy  Spirit  to  take  upon  you  the 
office  and  work  of  establishing  a  mission  within  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  British  Empire  in  India,  under  the 
patronage  and  support  of  the  Missionary  Society  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ;  and  we  have  re- 
ceived from  the  Rev.  Bishop  Simpson,  who  has  epis- 
copal charge  of  said  mission,  a  copy  of  the  commis- 
sion which  he  has  issued  to  you,  giving  j^ou  the  pub- 
lic authority  of  the  Church  to  establish  and  superin- 
tend the  said  mission.  And  the  Bishop  has  directed 
us  to  give  you  such  instructions  as  are  necessary  to 
enable  you  to  accomplish  your  mission,  according  to 
the  conditions  of  the  appointment." 

I  was  then  instructed  to  so  arrange  my  journey 
as  to  reach  Calcutta  between  the  1st  of  September  and 
10th  of  October,  and,  in  passing  through  London,  to 
seek  from  missionary  secretaries  and  others  all  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  113 

information  available  that  would  be  likely  to  aid  in 
carrying  out  the  duty  assigned  me.  and  also  to  do  the 
same  on  my  arrival  in  Calcutta. 

Three  fields  were  suggested  for  special  examina- 
tion.    The  instructions  ran, 

1.  "  Take  such  counsel  concerning  the  particular 
field  to  be  occupied  as  you  may  find  and  judge  to  be 
friendly  and  reliable ;  and  in  your  inquiries  we  direct 
your  attention  particularly  to  Eastern  Bengal,  a  vast 
and  populous  district  lying  to  the  north-east  of  Cal- 
cutta, beyond  the  ancient  city  Dacca,  toward  the 
mountains.  This  field,  we  understand,  is  unoccupied, 
and  is  easily  accessible ;  and  all  the  elementary  books 
of  the  language  of  the  people  are  ready  prepared  for 
the  use  of  the  missionary.  If  you  find  our  informa- 
tion correct  touching  this  country,  and  there  be  no 
counterbalancing  difiiculties,  we  commend  it  to  your 
attention. 

2.  "  But,  before  deciding  on  the  selection  of  Eastern 
Bengal,  as  suggested  above,  we  wish  you  to  inquire 
particularly  with  respect  to  the  Rohilla  country,  and 
the  regions  lying  still  farther  west  and  north-east. 
Our  information  leads  us  to  think  favorably  of  the 
north-west  of  India ;  and  the  chief  objection  that 
occurs  to  us,  in  reference  to  it,  is,  that  it  is  more 
generally  supplied  with  missions  than  Eastern  Bengal. 

3.  "  And,  in  addition  to  these  fields,  you  will  give 
attention  and  make  special  inquiries  concerning  the 

Bellary  country,  lying  on  the  north  of  Mysore ;  and 

8 


114  Feom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

if  jon  find  strong  grounds  to  believe  it  is  a  more 
promising  field  for  our  new  mission,  you  are  hereby 
authorized  to  stop  at  Madras  and  make  further  in- 
quiries ;  and,  if  need  be,  go  out  in  person  and  examine 
the  country.  But  we  do  not  advise  you  to  stop  at 
Madras,  unless  your  previous  inquiries  shall  strongly 
confirm  our  present  limited  information  in  favor  of 
Bellary  as  the  place  for  our  new  mission.  We  com- 
mit this  matter  to  your  discretion  after  due  inquiry." 
The  field  selected,  and,  on  report,  approved  by  tlie 
Board  at  home,  I  am  next  instructed  as  to  the  form 
which  the  mission  was  to  take,  and  what  was  to  be  its 
special  work.     It  says : 

4.  "In  selecting  the  people  among  whom  you  will 
establish  our  mission,  we  wish  you  to  have  reference 
solely  to  the  native  jpajpulation.  If  there  be  a  Euro- 
pean population  present  in  the  country  or  city  in 
which  you  establish  our  mission,  and  the  mission  can 
be  made  to  serve  their  spiritual  interests,  we  shall 
consent  and  be  glad ;  provided  such  service  does  not 
interfere  with  the  execution  of  your  mission  among 
the  heathen.  "We  send  you  to  preach  the  Gospel  to 
those  who  have  not  heard  and  do  not  hear  it,  and  all 
your  plans  must  be  devised  with  this  end  in  view. 

5.  "  This  leads  us  to  say,  in  all  your  plans  for  found- 
ing and  executing  your  mission,  you  will  regard  the 
preaching  of  the  word  to  the  people  as  the  principal 
eflScient  means  of  their  awakening  and  conversion, 
and  all  other  means  as  only  auxiliary  to  this  great 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  115 

efficient  instrument  ordained  of  God.  The  establish- 
ment of  schools,  and  the  distribution  of  tracts  and 
books  in  and  bj  the  mission,  are  subordinate  to  the 
great  design  of  the  mission,  which  is,  to  preach  the 
word  to  the  people  by  the  living  minister." 

The  letter  then  proceeds  to  deal  with  questions 
of  administration  of  the  mission  to  be  thus  founded, 
and*  of  its  organization  and  correspondence.  To  all 
this  Bishop  Simpson  added  his  admonition:  "Brother 
Butler,  lay  deep  and  hroad  foundations  for  Method- 
ism  in  India P  In  the  selection  of  a  Held,  I  was 
forbidden  to  enter  "upon  another  man's  line  of  things 
made  ready  to  our  hand."  We  were  to  respect  the  la- 
bors of  those  Christian  brethren,  going  "  where  Christ 
was  not  named,"  and  there  laying  our  own  founda- 
tions. There  was  little  temptation  to  any  unsectarian 
Christian  to  do  otherwise,  in  view  of  the  many  por- 
tions of  the  land,  w^ith  millions  of  people  to  whom  no 
one  had  yet  come  with  the  Gospel.  There  was,  there 
is  to-day,  an  abundant  choice  of  unoccupied  fields. 
It  is  likely  that  even  yet  one  half  of  the  people  of 
India  have  never  heard  the  offer  of  salvation  through 
Christ.  The  south,  the  sea -coast,  and  the  great 
cities,  and  along  the  lines  of  the  leading  thorough- 
fares, are  more  or  less  occupied ;  but  the  centers,  the 
dense  populations  of  the  agricultural  regions,  and 
the  multitudes  in  states  ruled  by  native  sovereigns, 
are  still  without  the  Gospel.  Of  the  two  hundred 
and    sixty    millions    of    people    in    India,    perhaps 


116  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

not  one  half  of  them  have  yet  seen  the  face  of  a 
missionary,  or  ever  heard  the  name  of  Him  who  died 
for  them !  It  was  easy  enough  to  find  unoccupied 
fields.  But  I  had  to  bear  in  mind  that  I  was  to  select 
a  field  where  "  broad  and  deep  foundations  "  could  be 
laid — a  wide  field,  as  well  as  an  unoccupied  one,  wide 
enough  to  avoid  being  either  divided  up  by  a  variety 
of  languages,  so  that  we  could  not  work  connection- 
allj^  or  else  be  sandwiched  in  between  existing  mis- 
sions, and  so  unable  to  expand  adequately,  and  have 
room  for  development  into  a  Conference  organiza- 
tion, if  God's  good  hand  should  prosper  us  to  such  a 
result.  The  number  of  languages  in  India  is  so 
many,  that  you  can  pass  out  oi  one  into  another  in 
certain  localities,  within  the  space  of  two  or  tliree 
hundred  miles.  It  is  not  easy  to  say  how  many  there 
are,  but  twenty -three  leading  languages,  and  three 
times  as  many  more  limited  ones,  are  commonly  al- 
leged to  be  in  use. 

Another  difficulty  of  selection  lay  in  the  fact,  that 
those  who  had  preceded  us  in  their  explorations  had 
naturally  sought  the  larger  cities,  even  when  tliey  had 
to  pass  over  hundreds  of  miles  from  the  last  mission 
to  do  so. 

We,  too,  were  anxious  to  have  our  share  of  such 
great  centers  of  life  and  influence,  as  well  as  to  have 
them  in  wide  sweeps  of  the  land,  and  yet  in  territory 
entirely  unoccupied  by  any  other  missions.  I  was 
not  aware,  until  I  made  the  trial,  how  difficult  it  was 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  117 

to  find  all  these  advantages  combined  in  sach  a  waj 
as  would  stand  the  test  of  experience  and  time,  and 
yield  entire  satisfaction  in  the  review  a  quarter  of  a 
century  later. 

Nor  was  this  all.  It  was  essential  that,  in  the  field 
chosen,  our  missionaries  should  not  be  located  where 
they  could  not  freely  communicate  with  each  other, 
and  be  visited  with  the  regularity  that  our  system 
required.  Neither  was  it  then  desirable  that  they 
should  be  located  in  territories  ruled  by  native 
princes,  and  away  from  the  protection  of  British  offi- 
cials. These,  with  other  considerations  that  I  need 
not  enumerate,  led  me  to  decide  against  such  locali- 
ties as  Bellary,  the  Deccan,  Kajpootana,  and  Dacca  as 
not  the  best  for  our  purpose.  Dacca  at  first  seemed 
desirable,  but,  when  I  came  to  examine  its  claim,  I 
found  it  situated  in  the  delta  of  the  Ganges,  with  the 
great  Brahmaputra  on  the  other  side,  lying  very  low, 
and  intersected  with  scores  of  rivers  and  streams 
that  are  all  circuitous,  and  which  in  the  rainy  sea- 
son swell  and  inundate  the  whole  district  like  an 
inland  sea,  so  that  from  the  middle  of  August  to  the 
middle  of  October  it  becomes  unhealthy.  That 
country  is  too  much  cut  up  to  permit  roads  to  be  of 
any  use.  Boats  are  the  chief  reliance,  as  in  Burmah, 
for  moving  about.  But  the  delay  and  difficulty  of 
reaching  from  place  to  place  is  so  great  that,  even 
now,  one  can  go  from  Calcutta  to  Bombay — fourteen 
hundred  miles — in  less  time  than  it  requires  to  go 


118  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

from  Calcutta  to  Dacca,  although  the  latter  is  only 
one  hundred  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Ganges. 
The  expense  is  corresponding  to  the  loss  of  time.  In 
passing,  I  may  remark  that  Dacca  is  famous  for  the 
delicacy  and  beauty  of  its  muslin,  which  is  worn  by 
the  upper  classes  of  India,  and,  indeed,  finds  its  way 
as  an  article  of  luxury  all  over  the  world.  Astonish- 
ing statements  are  made  of  its  manufacture.  Here  is 
a  sample,  in  regard  to  the  spinning  of  the  thread, 
which  has  to  be  done  with  such  amazing  nicety  that 
the  operation  is  performed  with  the  fingers  on  a  fine 
steel  spindle  by  young  women  who  could  only  work 
during  the  early  part  of  the  morning,  while  the  dew 
was  on  the  ground  ;  for  such  was  the  extreme  tenuity 
of  the  fiber  that  it  would  not  bear  manipulation  after 
the  sun  had  risen.  From  their  fineness  these  muslins 
were  called  Abrawan,  or  "  flowing  water,"  and  Shab- 
nam,  or  "  evening  dew." 

Many  other  parts  of  the  country  were  examined  or 
inquired  about,  but  were  declined  for  various  reasons, 
as  not  being  what  we  most  desired.  There  was  a 
peculiar  feeling  of  sadness  involved  in  visiting,  and 
then  turning  away  from,  the  localities  thus  decided 
against.  Here  were  districts  containing  from  one  to 
four  millions  of  people,  on  whom  we  looked  in  our 
search  for  the  suitable  field  which  we  sought.  It  was 
in  each  place  within  our  discretion  to  say,  "  Here  we 
will  settle  and  plant  the  Gospel  among  these  people," 
so  long  sitting  in  darkness,  and  to  whom  for  a  day  or 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  119 

two  the  light  had  come  at  last ;  or,  we  could  say, 
"  No,"  and  turn  off,  and  take  that  light  away  with  us, 
leaving  them  again  in  darkness,  feeling  that  another 
generation  would  probably  pass  away  ere  any  one 
else  would  come,  like  us,  searching  for  a  new  mission 
field,  to  give  light  to  these  millions  sitting  "  in  the 
shadow  of  death ! "  It  seemed  something  awful  to 
be  invested  with  such  a  power,  but  it  had  to  be  exer- 
cised till  sufficient  had  been  seen  and  considered  to 
make  the  comparison ;  and  then  to  select  from  among 
them  all  the  most  suitable  as  the  mission  field  to 
whose  evangelization  our  Church  would  devote  her 
means  and  energies. 

As  we  went  round,  prospecting  so  anxiously  and 
prayerfully,  we  would  occasionally  meet  with  English 
gentlemen,  devoted  servants  of  God  in  high  position, 
both  in  the  civil  and  military  departments  of  the  gov- 
ernment, who  gladly  welcomed  us  into  their  districts, 
and  used  most  earnest  persuasion  to  have  us  termi- 
nate our  wanderings  and  settle  down  with  their  peo- 
ple. Most  liberal  offers  of  pecuniary  aid  to  the 
mission  to  be  established  were  held  out.  One  of 
these  noble  men,  Mr.  Tucker,  Commissioner  of  the 
Benares  Division,  made  very  special  efforts  to  attract 
the  mission  into  his  dominions.  He  seemed  to  antici- 
pate that  our  work  was  going  to  have  a  grand  devel- 
opment, and  he  wanted  to  secure  the  blessing  for  his 
people.  But  there  was  already,  apart  from  the  mis- 
sions in  the  city  of  Benares,  an  Episcopal  Mission  at 


120  Fkom  BosToif  TO  Bareilly. 

several  points  in  liis  district.  Still  he  pleaded,  not- 
withstanding, that  the  supply  was  not  a  tenth  part  of 
the  demand.  lie  even  called  the  missionaries  of 
that  society  together,  and  urged  them  to  appreciate, 
without  delay,  the  chance  of  the  help  we  could  bring 
for  the  evangelization  of  the  people,  by  calling  in  all 
their  scattered  missionaries  and  concentrating  them  in 
the  south  of  the  division,  and  resio^ninsr  the  whole 
north  to  us,  with  head-quarters  at  Goruckpore.  His 
argument  with  me,  and  which  was  most  earnestly 
urged,  was,  that  "so  much  preparatory  work  had 
been  done  throughout  the  district  that  we  should  reap 
a  harvest  far  sooner  than  we  could  in  new  and  un- 
broken ground."  But,  to  me,  this  j^lea  spoke  caution 
rather  than  encouragement,  for  I  saw  it  would  be  a 
departure  from  our  principle  of  non-interference  with 
the  labors  of  other  Christian  brethren,  nor  did  it  seem 
just,  as  they  had  in  a  measure  broken  up  their  field 
and  sowed  the  seed,  that  we  should  step  in  between 
them  and  the  harvest  for  which  they  had  toiled  and 
prayed.  I  had  to  decline,  greatly  to  his  regret. 
When,  some  time  after,  I  wrote  and  informed  him 
that  I  had  decided  for  the  valley  north  of  the  Ganges, 
lie  replied  with  much  feeling,  repeating  his  opinion 
of  the  more  quiet  class  of  people,  and  greater  prepa- 
rations for  success  we  would  have  found  within  his 
limits,  and  concluded  with  the  words:  "But  now 
you  will  have  to  take  the  bull  by  the  horns !  "  But 
we   were   willing  to  incur   that  risk.      Though   far 


From  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  121 

beyond  Lis  figure  and  his  fears,  tlie  danger  had  to  be 
faced  within  six  months,  which  was  to  give  us  a  real- 
izins:  sense  of  what  David  meant  when  he  invoked 
the  divine  protection,  and  pleaded,  "  Be  not  far  from 
me ;  for  trouble  is  near  j  for  there  is  none  to  help. 
Many  bulls  have  compassed  me :  strong  bulls  of 
Bashan  have  beset  me  round.  They  gaped  upon  me 
with  their  mouths,  as  a  ravening  and  a  roaring  hon." 
Psa.  xxii,  11. 

Well,  they  truly  did  compass  and  gape  and  roar, 
and  also  blasphemed  our  Christ,  and  we  are  now 
returning  to  behold  how  wonderfully  our  God  con- 
trolled all  this  rage  for  his  own  glory ;  and  to  do  in 
Bareilly,  and  in  Lucknow  as  well,  exactly  what  David 
said  he  would  do  after  he  was  similarly  rescued  :  "  I 
will  declare  thy  name  unto  my  brethren :  in  the  midst 
of  the  congregation  will  I  praise  thee."  Yerse  22. 
We  go,  also,  gladly  to  anticipate  and  claim  the  vic- 
tory in  which  this  defeated  resistance  is  yet  to  issue, 
as  he  says,  in  verse  27 :  "  All  the  ends  of  the  world 
shall  remember  and  turn  unto  the  Lord  :  and  all 
the  kindreds  of  the  nations  shall  worship  before 
thee.''  Exactly ;  for  each  resistance  gave  God  his  op- 
portunity of  victory,  and  each  victory  is  most  assur- 
edly leading  on  to  the  final  triumph,  in  which  the 
contest  is  to  issue  to  the  praise  of  his  glory.  God's 
Church  need  not  fear,  "though  the  earth  be  re- 
moved, and  though  the  mountains  be  carried  into  the 
midst  of  the  sea ; "  because  "  God  is  in  the  midst  of 


122    •  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

lier ;  she  sliall  not  be  moved  :  God  shall  help  her,  and 
that  right  early." 

Another  good  man,  Mr.  Atherton,  holding  a  high 
position  as  Judge  of  the  Sarun  District,  hearing  of 
our  arrival,  so  earnestly  desired  that  we  should  con- 
sent to  plant  our  mission  within  his  jurisdiction,  that 
he  addressed  Mr.  Tucker,  requesting  him  to  inform 
us  of  his  good-will  and  ready  assistance.  He  wrote  : 
"  If  the  American  missionaries  wish  to  face  the  devil 
in  his  den,  let  them  come  to  this  place,  and  make 
Chuparah  their  head-quarters.  I  will  subscribe  one 
hundred  rupees  a  month  toward  the  mission  so  long 
as  I  hold  my  present  appointment,  or  any  other  of 
equal  value,  and  I  am  sure  others  also  would  sub- 
scribe cheerfully.  Inclose  this  note  to  Mr.  Butler, 
that  he  may  know  a  welcome  awaits  him  and  his 
brethren  in  my  places." 

Six  hundred  dollars  per  annum  from  a  Christian 
whom  I  had  not  yet  seen,  and  who  belonged  to  an- 
other denomination !  Such  was  the  sympathy  shown 
by  some  English  gentlemen  for  the  perishing  heathen 
around  them ! 

A  few  words  on  the  field  chosen,  and  accepted  by 
the  Board,  may  conclude  this  chapter.  It  was  a  very 
remarkable  Providence  that  reserved  for  us  such  a 
wide,  unoccupied,  and,  indeed,  pre-eminent  field,  as 
this  has  proved  to  be. 

For  nearly  forty  centuries  the  Brahmins  have  been 
studying  the  soul  and  its  destiny  under  the  shadows 


From  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  123 

of  the  Himalayas,  in  tlie  great  Gangetic  valley. 
There  its  wonderful  epics  were  composed,  there  are 
its  great  Mela  grounds,  there  are  the  scenes  of  Vish- 
nu's reputed  incarnations,  and  probably  there  were  its 
Yedas  and  the  Shastars  written. 

My  letter  of  instructions,  among  the  others,  men- 
tions the  Rohillas.  This  warlike  race  occupies  the 
western  half  of  the  great  north  valley ;  yet,  by  itself, 
Kohilcund  would  have  been  too  small  a  field  of  -ac- 
tion for  the  Church  w^iich  I  represented  ;  but  east 
of  that,  in  the  same  great  valley,  and  only  divided 
from  it  by  an  arbitrary  line,  were  the  kindred  people 
of  Oude,  but  their  bigoted  sovereign  kept  the  gates 
of  his  kingdom  closed  against  Christianity  up  to 
within  a  few  weeks  of  our  arrival.  Eohilcund  and 
Oude  together  would  constitute  one  of  the  grandest 
mission  fields  in  India,  or  in  the  w^orld.  This  great 
valley,  speaking  generally,  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  the  Himalaya  mountains,  on  the  west  and  south 
by  the  Ganges,  and  on  the  east  by  Goruckpore. 
Within  these  limits,  which  would  measure  about  four 
hundred  miles  long,  and  an  average  of  over  one  hun- 
dred and  forty  miles  wide,  there  are  now,  it  is  calcu- 
lated, nearly  twenty  millions  of  human  beings. 

The  census  shows  that  in  this  extensive  valley 
there  are  seven  hundred  and  two  towns  which  have 
from  one  thousand  to  five  thousand  of  a  population ; 
twenty-nine  towns  with  from  five  thousand  to  ten 
thousand  ;  and  twenty -two  towns  and  cities  with  from 


124  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

ten  thousand  to  three  hundred  thousand  souls  in 
each.  "What  an  opportunity  of  Cliristian  usefulness 
did  God  provide  here  for  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church ! 

The  density  of  the  population  in  some  of  the  dis- 
tricts of  this  valley  is  up  to  four  hundred  and  forty- 
two  to  the  square  mile.  With  tlie  exception  of  a 
mission  of  the  Episcopalians  in  one  of  these  cities, 
this  great  mass  of  humanity  have  none  but  us  to  look 
to  for  the  means  of  grace  and  salvation.  If  these 
millions  are  saved,  it  will  be  by  our  faithfulness  to 
the  solemn  trust  so  providentially  placed  in  our 
hands ;  and  if  lost — if  they  go  down  to  an  idolaters' 
eternity — it  will  be  in  consequence  of  our  neglect,  or 
of  our  inability,  to  save  them.  No  Church  on  eartli 
has  a  grander  opportunity  than  Methodism  possesses 
to-day  in  that  valley. 

How  wonderful  that  it  should  have  been  reserved 
for  us  till  we  were  ready  to  enter  it !  It  was  only 
a  few  weeks  before  I  reached  Lucknow  that  Oude 
was  annexed,  its  king  pensioned  and  removed  to 
Calcutta,  while  his  mother,  the  Dowager  Queen  of 
Oude,  whom  I  passed  as  I  came  out  of  Southampton 
in  August,  had  returned  with  the  intelligence  tliat 
the  government  in  London  would  not  reverse  the 
action  of  the  Governor-General  and  Council  in  India. 
The  kingdom  was  henceforth  to  be  governed  by  Brit- 
ish officers.  Sir  Henry  Lawrence  w^as  appointed  as 
the  head  of  its  administration.     But  before  he  could 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  125 

arrive  at  Liicknow  from  the  Punjab,  I  had  reached 
its  gates,  and  found  them  just  opened  to  Christianity. 
So  I  entered  and  passed  on  up  to  Bareilly,  and  took 
possession  in  the  name  of  my  divine  Master,  planting 
the  standard  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  in 
the  central  city  of  that  great  Gauge  tic  valley,  ours 
forever  to  cultivate  for  Christ,  "  till  its  idols  shall  be 
utterly  abolished,  and  the  Lord  alone  shall  be  exalt- 
ed "  among  these  millions. 

This,  then,  is  our  parish  in  India.  But  our  "  good- 
ly heritage,"  though  given  us  of  God,  was  not  going 
to  be  conceded  to  us  by  "  the  rulers  of  the  darkness 
of  this  world,"  Satanic  or  human,  without  a  terrible 
resistance.  A  struggle,  the  most  fearful  that  Chris- 
tianity ever  passed  through  on  the  Oriental  hemi- 
sphere, was  soon  to  rise  and  combine  its  energies  to 
resist  our  entering,  where  "  Satan  long  had  held  his 
throne :"  so  that  only  ten  weeks  elapsed  from  the 
time  when  we  obtained  a  home  in  Bareilly,  till  that 
resistance  burst  forth  in  **  blood  and  fire  and  pillars 
of  smoke,"  and  for  long  months  we  were  unheard  of 
and  were  even  given  up  as  deadl  The  whole  of  the 
terrible  story,  and  how  we  were  saved,  and  how  God 
"  made  the  wrath  of  man  to  praise  him,"  and  re- 
strained its  remainder,  are  all  told  in  my  other  book, 
Tlie  Land  of  the  Veda,  and  need  not  be  further  re- 
ferred to  here.  Now  we  are  returning,  and  we  shall 
have  the  opportunity  of  seeing  how  far  my  convic- 
tion, uttered  at  the  time,  that  tlie  Sepoy  Kebellion 


r^ 


126  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

would  not  only  fail,  but  that,  instead,  it  would  even 
throw  the  country  forward  a  hundred  years  nearer  to 
its  salvation — how  far  that  expectation  has  been  real- 
ized. So  here  we  pause  until  the  next  ocean  is 
crossed,  and  we  stand  once  more  in  "  The  Climes  of 
the  Sun,"  and  contemplate  the  results  which  have 
been  there  wrought  out  during  the  past  twenty-live 
years. 

We  are  now  approaching  the  southern  end  of  the 
Eed  Sea.  Abyssinia  is  close  on  our  right,  and  Yemen 
in  Arabia,  with  its  port  of  Mocha,  on  our  left. 
Before  us  are  the  Straits  of  Bab-el-Mandeb,  tlie  Island 
of  Perim,  with  its  welcome  light-house,  being  in  the 
center.  How  grateful  we  felt  for  preserving  mercy, 
as  we  rounded  into  the  unique  harbor  of  Aden,  to  re- 
plenish our  resources,  and  prepai-e  for  our  run  across 
the  Indian  Ocean. 

This  port  of  Aden  is  a  place  of  remarkable  strength 
and  of  great  importance,  holding  somewhat  the  same 
position  between  Africa  and  Asia  that  Gibraltar  holds 
between  Europe  and  Africa.  The  etymology  of  the 
name  is  supposed  to  be  the  same  as  Eden  (or  Para- 
dise), and  that  it  was  so  designated  by  the  Arabs  to 
express  their  sense  of  its  climate  and  the  commercial 
advantages  for  which  it  has  long  been  famous.  The 
sunshine  is  perpetual,  and  we  did  not  find  the  heat 
too  oppressive  Bain  seldom  falls,  sometimes  only 
once  in  three  years,  but  the  water  supply  is  ample, 
by  means  of    immense  reservoirs  built  by  English 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  127 

enterprise,  so  that  its  thirty  thousand  inhabitants  and 
all  the  ships  that  call  are  amply  supplied.  The  Arab 
women  were  unveiled,  and  appeared  quite  at  their 
ease  in  the  jDresence  of  strangers,  as  their  cousins, 
the  daughters  of  Judea,  did  in  days  of  old.  About 
half  a  mile  out  from  the  city,  at  the  reservoirs,  I  saw 
numbers  of  them  who  had  come,  like  Hebekah,  to 
draw  water,  and  some  of  them  did  look  as  handsome 
as,  no  doubt,  she  did.  My  foreign  costume  and  white 
face  made  me,  evidently,  an  object  of  amusement  to 
them,  though  it  was  all  modestly  and  kindly  carried 
on.  The  warm  olive  color  was  certainly  no  detriment 
to  their  beauty,  and  probably  they  exhibited  about 
the  very  tinge  which  was  borne  on  the  cheek  of  the 
lovely  "  mother  of  all  living  "  in  the  original  Eden 
somewhere  in  the  northern  part  of  this  same  pen- 
insula. 

But  our  rambling  must  close,  and  we  hurry  on  board 
again.  How  the  sense  of  responsibility  deepens  as 
the  expected  duties  draw  nearer,  yet  we  are  kept  calm 
and  trustful  as  they  approach.  With  a  profound 
respect  for  the  authorities  whose  commission  I  bear, 
and  with  a  humble  reliance  upon  the  providential 
^  guidance  of  Him  in  whose  name  they  have  sent  me, 
and  whose  blessed  promise,  "  Lo,  I  am  with  youalway, 
even  unto  the  end  of  the  world,"  now  becomes  more 
close  and  precious,  as  the  distance  from  them  mani- 
festly grows  wider,  and  this  final  start  is  made. 
Seven  thousand  miles  now  separate  us  from  them,  and 


128  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

from  tlie  loved  ones  and  dear  friends  whom  we  have 
left  behind,  dwelling  amid  the  peace  and  security  of 
our  Christian  civilization  in  loved  America.  How 
intense  were  all  these  feelings  and  thoughts  as  we 
weighed  anchor,  and  run  out  in  the  shades  of  the 
evenino:  throuojh  the  narrow  entrance  into  that 
Oriental  ocean,  on  the  other  side  of  which  was  India ! 
We  glanced  back  with  sympathy,  and,  as  we  looked 
forward  with  hope,  our  thoughts  were  well  expressed 
in  the  simple  words  of  the  poet, 

"  To  some  thou  givest  at  ease  to  lie, 

Content  in  anchored  happiness; 
Thy  breath  my  full  sail  swelling,  I 

Across  these  broadening  seas  would  press. 

"  At  friendly  shores,  at  peaceful  isles, 

I  touch ;  but  may  not  long  delay ; 
Where  thy  flushed  East  with  mystery  smiles 

I  steer  into  the  uu risen  day." 


Fbom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  129 


CHAPTER  IV. 

So  might  I  view  Siu's  moldering  empire  fail, 

And  the  bright  coming  of  the  Saviour  hail  I 

Yet,  Lord,  before  that  solemn  day  arrive, 

Before  I  cease  to  labor,  cease  to  live. 

Though  not  to  me  the  blessing  should  be  given, 

To  see  earth  covered  with  the  rays  of  heaven, — 

Still  may  I,  gracious  Lord  of  life  and  light. 

Snatch  some  lost  heathen  from  eternal  night, 

Plant  tlie  first  church  upon  some  Pagan  shore, 

Gaze  on  its  oft'sets  branching  into  more. 

Would  others  reap  where  I  alone  have  sown? 

Others  shall  make  the  glorious  cause  their  own; 

And  I,  exultiug,  view  the  dawning  ray, 

Though  they  may  have  the  fuller  blaze  of  day, — Anon. 

Our  good  ship  was  The  Nubia^  Captain  Tronson 
commanding.  The  "monsoon,"  or  stormy  rain-fall, 
had  not  yet  ceased,  and  before  reaching 

"  The  golden  gates  of  day, 
Which  open  on  the  palmy  East," 

we  enconntered  one  of  those  tropical  storms,  so  com- 
mon in  these  seas  at  certain  seasons  of  the  year.  The 
thunder  and  lightning,  and  the  intense  darkness  and 
amazing  downpour,  were  an  experience  not  to  be  soon 
forgotten.  How  calmly  and  firmly  each  man  stood 
to  liis  post  of  duty,  and  what  a  solemn  pause  was  all 

over  that  steamer  as  she  contended  with  the  raging 
9 


130  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

elements.     But  we  were  protected,  and  came  out  into 
the  sunlight  without  a  spar  broken,  or  a  sail  lost. 

"We  were  not  so  fortunate  on  the  next  occasion,  in 
about  the  same  locality.  A  cyclone  came  up,  and 
struck  us  ere  we  were  ready  for  it.  Our  ship,  The 
Lady  Jocelyn^  an  immense  vessel  built  during  the 
Crimean  war  as  a  troop  ship,  was  only  "  an  auxiliary 
screw  "  steamer — the  little  propeller,  of  sixty  horse- 
power, was  used  merely  for  going  in  and  out  of  port, 
or  for  crossing  the  line,  w^here  the  wind  so  often  fails. 
When  not  used  it  could  be  lifted  up,  and  the  great 
ship  then  went  under  canvas  alone.  In  this  con- 
dition, on  the  occasion  in  question,  proceeding  slowly 
on  our  way,  the  cyclone  w^as  seen  approaching.  To 
get  out  of  its  path  was  impossible  within  the  time. 
So  on  it  came  roaring,  the  water  and  air  constituting 
a  great  black  column  that  towered  up  toward  the  sky, 
revolving  rapidly  on  its  axis,  and  yet  moving  in  a 
plane  of  its  own,  like  the  annual  and  diurnal  motions 
of  the  earth.  Amid  terrible  suspense  it  swept  down 
upon  us,  and  in  ^yq  minutes  tore  away  our  sails,  and 
bending  the  great  vessel  over,  shifted  some  of  our 
cargo,  and  left  us  helpless  for  a  time.  The  effect  was 
remarkable.  The  inclination  of  the  deck  to  the 
water  made  it  look  as  though  the  ocean  were  a  hill- 
side. The  dreadful  power  passed  on,  and  we  were 
glad  to  find  that  our  spars  were  unbroken.  Soon 
fresh  sails  were  brought  up  from  below,  and  the 
gallant  ship  was  trimmed  again.     The  engineer  lit  his 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  131 

fires,  and  dropped  the  screw,  and  in  six  hours  she 
was  recovered  to  a  better  position,  and  we  ran  for 
Cape  Town,  where  she  was  quickly  refitted. 

An  unfortunate  ship,  according  to  her  reckoning 
only  about  twelve  miles  south  of  us  on  tliat  day,  was 
struck  by  the  sanie  cyclone  about  one  hour  ere  it 
reached  us,  and  not  only  lost  her  sails,  but  also  had 
lier  masts  broken,  and  was  left  like  a  helpless  log 
upon  the  water.  She  did  not  reach  her  destination 
till  nearly  four  months  after  our  arrival.  The  descrip- 
tion of  the  sufferings  to  which  those  on  board  were 
reduced,  before  help  overtook  them,  was  dreadful. 

It  was  a  singular  coincidence  that  the  English  and 
American  Methodist  missions  to  India  should  both 
have  commenced  their  labors  under  afflictive  circum- 
stances, in  each  case  the  sorrow  being  connected  with 
their  superintendent.  On  the  3d  of  May,  1814,  the 
superintendent  of  the  first  band  of  Wesleyan  mis- 
sionaries, our  own  Dr.  Coke,  proceeding  to  Cey- 
lon, suddenly  died  within  three  days'  sail  of  India. 
His  brethren,  deprived  of  their  zealous  and  devoted 
leader,  landed  in  sadness  upon  these  shores.  On  the 
doctor's  death,  James  Lynch  (referred  to  in  my  second 
chapter),  one  of  the  five  missionaries  that  accompanied 
him,  was  appointed  to  take  charge  as  superintendent. 
He  labored  nearly  thirty  years,  and  then  returned  to 
Ireland,  his  native  land.  He  was  there  appointed  to 
the  Comber  Circuit,  but  being  feeble,  I  was  sent  to 
assist  him  to  finish  his  year.     The  good  old  man  took 


132  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

quite  a  fancy  to  his  youtliful  colleague.  "We  traveled 
and  labored  together.  I  derived  much  of  my  early 
missionary  inspiration  from  association  with  this 
devoted  servant  of  the  Lord.  On  my  way  to  India, 
I  found  him  on  the  platform  of  the  Wesleyan  MijB- 
sionary  Anniversary  in  Exeter  Hall,  London,  very 
feeble,  but  calmly  awaiting  his  departure  to  a  better 
world,  while  the  boy  preacher  that  he  so  kindly 
encouraged  fifteen  years  before  sat  by  his  side,  and 
was  on  liis  way  to  tliat  very  India  as  superintendent 
of  the  American  Methodist  Mission  to  be  established 
there. 

Thus  it  happened  that  to  me  was  given  the  peculiar 
honor  of  being  a  sort  of  connecting  link  between  the 
first  and  the  last  established  missions  of  Methodism 
in  India — a  living  bond,  as  it  were,  uniting  English 
and  American  Wesle^^anism  in  the  foreign  field.  I 
appreciate  the  privilege,  and  would  rather  thus  stand 
■ — a  link  in  this  honored  ministry — than  to  wear  the 
gaudiest  miter  of  him  whose  ministerial  confidence 
is  the  empty  figment  of  a  so-called  "  apostolical  suc- 
cession ! " 

Nearly  half  a  century  passed  away,  and  on  the  19th 
of  September,  1856,  another  ship  neared  the  coast  of 
India ;  this  time  bearing,  not  English,  but  American 
Methodist  missionaries.  They  are  also  the  first  band 
that  their  Church  has  sent  to  India,  and  they,  too,  are 
overwhelmed  with  anxiety  and  distress,  for  they  fear 
that  their  superintendent  is  no  longer   among  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  133 

living !  He  had  preceded  them  seventeen  months 
before,  had  selected  the  iield,  and  anxiously  awaited 
their  coming ;  passing,  in  the  meanwhile,  through  the 
"great  fight  of  afflictions,"  in  which  our  work  in 
India  began. 

The  pilot,  who  had  come  on  board  their  ship  in  the 
Bay  of  Bengal,  had  informed  them  that  the  terrible 
Sepoy  Kebellion  was  raging  over  the  interior  of 
India.  But  let  one  of  themselves  describe  their 
feelings,  as  he  did  afterward  in  a  letter  to  me.  He 
says :  "  We  knew  nothing  of  the  fearful  scenes 
transpiring,  in  India  until  our  pilot  came  on  board, 
on  the  morning  of  the  19th  instant,  bringing  files  of 
the  latest  papers.  After  we  had  recovered  ourselves 
a  little  from  the  first  blow,  we  turned  to  the  account 
of  the  Bareilly  tragedy.  I  read  it  aloud,  trembling 
almost  to  read  from  line  to  line.  Twenty-nine  out 
of  eighty-four  Europeans  escaped,  and  your  name 
unmentioned  !  Our  w^orst  fears  were  excited.  We 
saw,  however,  that  only  official  names  were  given ; 
but,  after  resolving  the  matter,  could  encourage  our- 
selves but  little  to  hope  for  your  safety.  We  re- 
mained in  this  state  of  intense  suspense  until  four 
P.  M.  on  Monday,  the  21st,  w^hen  we  cast  anchor  at 
Garden  Keach.  I  hastened  on  shore,  called  on 
Brother  Stewart,  and  learned  the  joyful  tidings  of 
your  escape  to  Nynee  Tal,  and  also  Mr.  Owen's 
safety,  of  which  we  had  been  uncertain.  Our  interest 
was  all  concentrated  in  this  question,  '  Are  Brother 


134  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

Butler  and  family  safe  f '  Wlien  we  learned  this, 
our  gratitude  and  gladness  were  such  we  scarcely 
thought  for  the  time  of  your  losses  and  sufferings ;  it 
seemed  enough  that  you  were  safe.  '  O  that  men 
would  praise  the  Lord  for  his  goodness,  and  for  his 
wonderful  works  to  the  children  of  men.'  I  returned 
to  the  ship,  then  were  we  glad,  thanked  God,  and 
took  courage." 

On  the  8th  of  October,  1883,  still  another  sliip  is 
appi'oaching  the  shores  of  India,  but  no  sorrow  clouds 
this  arrival.  The  shadow  of  death  is  not  here. 
Loving  friends  are  waiting  to  welcome  "  the  father 
and  mother  of  the  Korth  India  mission  "  to  their  old 
field  of  labor,  while  all  is  gratitude  and  joy.  Good- 
ness and  mercy  have  followed  them,  and  liere  they 
are  once  more  crowned  with  loving  kindness  and 
the  favor  of  the  Lord. 

But,  ere  we  indulge  this  grateful  strain,  let  us 
speak  again  of  our  former  voyage,  when  we  came  as 
strangers,  with  hearts  full  of  anxiety  for  the  field 
which  we  had  to  choose,  and  the  work  which  we  had 
to  inaugurate.  On  that  occasion,  instead  of  landing, 
as  now,  at  Bombay,  which  was  not  then,  as  to-day, 
the  Gate  of  India,  we  went  up  on  the  other  side,  by 
Ceylon,  to  Calcutta.  After  rounding  Cape  Comorin, 
we  ran  into  Point  de  Galle  for  a  few  hours,  to  land 
the  mails,  and  had  our  first  experience  of 

*'  The  spicy  breezes  " 
That  •'  blow  soft  o'er  Ceylon's  Isle." 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  135 

We  landed,  and  went  to  tlie  AVesleyan  mission  house, 
and  were  cordially  welcomed.  In  company  with  our 
kind  hosts,  we  went  out  to  visit  the  cinnamon  groves, 
which  I  suppose  have  given  rise  to  the  idea  of  these 
breezes. 

Returning  to  the  mission  for  tea,  before  going 
again  on  board,  we  had  our  first  opportunity  of 
hearing  "  the  Redeemer's  name  sung  "  in  a  heathen 
land. 

As  we  partook  of  some  refreshment,  the  soft,  sweet 
strains  of  a  hymn  came  from  an  adjoining  building, 
and  recognizing  the  precious  tune,  we  eagerly  asked, 
"  What  is  that  ? "  and  one  answei-ed,  "  That  is  a  class- 
meeting  just  commencing."  "And  what  are  the 
words  ? "  How  delightful  was  the  reply,  —  "  The 
words  are : 

*  Jesus,  lover  of  my  soul, 
Let  me  to  thy  bosom  fly,' 

in  the  Singhalese  language." 

This  incident  intensified  thoughts  which  had  been 
in  my  mind  ever  since  I  had  offered  to  go  to  India, 
in  relation  to  the  adaptation  of  the  Gospel  to  these 
people.  As  I  came  nearer  I  longed  to  learn  from 
those  who  would  fully  understand  me  wliether  the 
Christian  religion  was  really  all  to  these  Orientals  that 
it  was  to  redeemed  people  in  our  Western  hemi- 
sphere? Could  they  have  an  experience  like  our 
own?  I  felt  that  the  very  life  of  my  mission  de- 
pended upon  the  reply  to  this  question.    As  a  Church 


136  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

we  could  not  long  keep  up  our  interest  in  a  work  of 
evangelization  that  fell  short  of  this.  To  elevate,  by 
education  and  Christian  civilization,  was  good  in  its 
way,  but  any  change  of  religion  or  moral  conduct 
that  was  not  accompanied  by  tlie  conscious  salvation 
of  God  in  the  hearts  of  our  converts  would  not  long 
command  the  sympathy  and  generous  support  of  the 
Methodist  people.  This  I  felt  and  knew,  so  I  went 
to  India  with  anxiety  on  my  mind  in  regard  to  tliis 
vital  question,  and  my  first  impression  was  favorable. 
Had  time  permitted  I  would  have  introduced  the  sub- 
ject right  here,  but  we  had  to  hurry  on  board,  with 
the  question  unasked.  The  desire  to  know,  however, 
was  intensified,  and  two  days  later,  on  arrival  at 
Madras,  the  delay  there  being  longer,  I  took  a  boat 
and  went  ashore,  resolved  to  terminate  my  solicitude 
on  the  subject. 

Finding  my  way  to  the  Wesleyan  mission  house,  I 
was  fortunate  in  meeting  the  cliairman  of  the  district 
(their  title  for  presiding  elder),  Hev.  Mr.  Hodson, 
and,  after  informing  him  who  I  was,  and  what  I 
had  come  to  do,  I  asked  this  venerable  man,  who 
would  certainly  understand  me,  what  was  the  char- 
acter of  the  religious  experience  of  their  native 
converts. 

He  seemed  surprised  at  the  question,  and  asked 
what  I  meant  by  it.  I  explained  that  I  wanted  to 
know  whether  these  Hindu  people  could  be  converted, 
and  have  the  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  fact 


Fbom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  137 

of  their  iwifteptance  witli  God,  as  we  in  England  and 
Americ*  enjoyed  it.  He  looked  at  me  and  smiled, 
no  doubt  thinking  I  was  a  novice  in  missionary  expe- 
rience to  put  such  a  question.  But  he  saw  I  was 
anxious  to  have  a  candid  answer.  Without  further 
remark  he  left  the  room,  and  soon  returned,  leading 
in  a  young  man  whom  he  introduced  to  me  as  one  of 
their  theological  students,  and  quietly  observing, 
"  You  can  ask  him,"  he  went  out  again,  leaving  me 
face  to  face  with  the  answer  to  my  question. 

Even  at  home,  and  amid  the  coniidences  of  our  pas- 
toral life,  it  is  not  always  easy  for  a  minister  to  ascer- 
tain exactly  the  real  condition  of  the  religious  life 
and  experience  of  his  members.  Yet  here  I  was, 
with  an  utter  stranger,  and  he  a  Hindu,  seeking  this 
information. 

But  I  was  committed  to  the  inquiry,  and,  finding 
that  he  could  speak  English,  resolved  to  improve  my 
opportunity.  My  limited  time  made  it  necessary 
that  I  should  be  prompt ;  so,  after  greeting  the  young 
man,  I  drew  up  two  chairs  and  we  were  seated.  His 
gracious  and  intelligent  appearance  impressed  me  fa- 
vorably. I  wished  him  to  feel  quite  at  ease  with  me, 
told  him  who  I  was  and  where  I  was  going,  and  then 
said : 

"  You  are  the  first  converted  Hindu  I  have  ever 
seen,  and  you  cannot  imagine  with  what  interest  I 
look  at  you.  I  want  you  to  help  me  by  answering 
me  a  question  or  two." 


138  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

He  replied  that  he  would  try  to  do  so.     I  then  said, 

"  First,  then,  will  you  tell  me  how  you  were  con- 
verted to  Christianity  ? " 

He  was  solemnized  by  the  abrupt  inquiry,  and  a 
shade  of  emotion  passed  over  his  countenance,  but  he 
was  soon  self-possessed  again,  and,  after  a  few  sec- 
onds, replied : 

"Well,  sir,  1  heard  the  missionaries  preach  in  the 
Bazaar,  and  w^as  led  to  read  the  Bible.  I  thus  found 
out  that  my  ancestral  religion  was  false,  and  that 
Christianity  was  true.  I  embraced  it,  and  was  bap- 
tized. I  am  a  communicant,  and  attend  eliurch;  I 
study  the  Scriptures,  and  am  a  Christian." 

Had  he  stopped  here,  as  I  feared  he  might,  and,  as  I 
afterward  learned,  hundreds  of  "  converts  "  do, — per- 
haps because  they  are  not  taught  better, — I  should  not 
have  been  much  encouraged  by  the  interview  ;  but,  to 
my  delight,  he  went  on  to  say  that  he  had  been  led  to 
see  that  he  was  a  sinner — that  his  heart  must  be 
changed  and  his  transgressions  against  God  forgiven, 
or  his  soul  would  be  lost ;  and,  under  this  deep  sense 
of  his  need  of  mercy,  he  had  come  as  a  penitent  to 
God ;  that  he  was  soon  enabled  to  cast  himself  by 
faith  on  the  merits  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  God 
took  off  from .  his  conscience  the  heavy  load  of  sin, 
and  shed  abroad  his  love  in  his  heart.  He  then  felt 
and  knew  that  he  was  saved,  and  had  ever  since  been 
happy. 

How  glad  I  was  to  hear  this  simple,  clear  state- 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  130 

ment — to  have  tliis  evidence,  that  our  blessed  religion 
could  be  every  thing  to  a  Hindu  that  it  was  to  me. 
I  rejoiced  with  him,  and  then  said  : 

"  Now,  that  seems  all  right ;  you  have  given  to  me 
a  reason  of  the  hope  that  is  in  you,  will  you  further 
tell  me,  as  you  have  been  introduced  to  me  as  a  theo- 
logical student,  what  are  your  motives  for  entering 
the  Christian  ministry  ?  " 

This  was  a  very  close  question,  but  he  endured  it, 
and  modestly  replied : 

"  Well,  sir,  the  mercy  that  has  saved  me  can  save 
any  one  else,  and  I  have  such  sympathy  for  those 
around  me  who  are  now  as  I  once  was,  that  I  want 
to  lead  them  to  God  for  mercy,  as  I  was  led  myself. 
The  Lord  has  laid  this  upon  my  heart  as  a  duty,  and 
I  dare  not  refuse.     I  must  preach  the  Gospel." 

I  was  delighted  with  his  reply,  and  said  : 

"  I  think  any  of  our  Quarterly  Conferences  in 
America  would  vote  you,  on  such  evidence,  a  license 
to  preach.  I  thank  you  for  answering  my  questions ; 
you  have  done  me  more  good  than  you  can  know,  and 
have  solved  any  doubt  I  may  have  had  whether  God 
could  save  your  race  and  call  them  to  his  holy  minis- 
try as  truly  and  fully  as  he  saves  and  calls  his  servants 
elsewhere.  I  shall  never  forget  you ;  you  have 
greatly  encouraged  me  for  the  work  on  which  I  am 
entering." 

Bidding  him  an  affectionate  farewell,  I  had  to 
hurry  away  to  reach  the  ship  ere  she  lifted  her  anchor. 


140  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

During  the  remaining  four  days  of  the  voyage  on  to 
Calcutta  I  thought  constantly  of  that  precious  young 
man,  and  prayed  earnestly  that  God  might  so  guide 
and  bless  our  efforts  that  I  should  live  to  see  raised 
up  in  the  mission  which  I  was  to  found  men  like  him, 
converted  to  God  and  having  a  divine  call  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry — feeling  assured  that  if  this 
were  done  our  people  at  home  would  never  fail  in 
sympathy  for  the  work,  but  would  sustain  it  as  long 
as  it  presented  such  claims  as  these  to  their  confidence 
and  affection. 

How  much  need  there  is  in  a  land  like  India,  or, 
indeed,  in  any  unevangelized  land,  for  caution  in  these 
important  matters,  where  converts  so  much  need  "  line 
upon  line,"  as  to  the  essential  nature  of  Christianity, 
and  where  they  are  so  liable  to  stop  short  of  divine 
grace;  resting  content  in  sacraments  and  Church 
membership,  and  the  remembrances  they  have  of  the 
sacrifices  they  made  in  order  to  become  "  Christians : " 
and  too  often  trusting  in  the  form  without  the 
power.  What  perpetual  need  there  is  to  reiterate  the 
caution,  "Ye  must  be  born  again!"  The  clearest 
teaching  and  the  highest  standard  are  needed  here, 
where  so  many  influences  combine  to  cloud  the  sub- 
ject and  lead  men  to  rest  in  "  a  name  to  live  while  they 
are  dead."  A  religion  of  mere  form  is  all  that  such 
people  ever  know,  so  they  have  a  strong  temptation  to 
rest  satisfied  in  the  purer  forms  of  Christianity,  and 
suppose  it  is  all  right  with  them  because  they  have  ac- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  141 

cepted  a  Christian  creed,  been  baptized,  regularly  par- 
ticipate in  the  holy  communion,  and  try  to  live  right. 

If  their  spiritual  guide  be  a  man  who  is  not  aware 
that  the  witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit  is  the  common 
privilege  of  Christians,  every- where  and  in  all  ages, 
he  is  not  likely  to  urge  them  to  seek  it  earnestly  ;  nor 
will  he  be  very  emphatic  in  drawing  their  attention 
to  the  definite  instruction  contained  in  those  passages 
which  teach  this  blessed  truth  ;  such  as :  "Because 
ye  are  sons,  God  hath  sent  forth  the  Spirit  of  his  Son 
into  your  hearts,  crying,  Abba,  Father." 

Here  the  witness  is  essentially  connected  with  the 
sonship  of  God's  children  ;  the  testimony  of  the  Spirit 
accompanies  his  work  in  the  heart — the  evidence  goes 
with  the  relationship  as  surely  as  feeling  and  con- 
sciousness go  with  life. 

On  my  return,  anxious  to  add  another  voice  to  "  the 
word  of  their  testimony,"  as  I  moved  among  the  con- 
gregations which  our  brethren  have  gatliered  out  of 
heathenism  into  the  fellowship  of  Christianity,  I  re- 
peatedly exhorted  on  such  texts  as,  "  Have  ye  received 
the  Holy  Ghost  since  ye  believed?"  and  was  con- 
stantly pleased  to  find  that  I  was  understood  on  this 
subject  by  our  converts  as  I  would  be  by  our  congre- 
gations at  home. 

They  have  been  well  trained  in  the  truth  of  God  by 
men  who  are  not  troubled  by  any  mental  reservation 
as  to  whether  the  Lord  Jesus,  in  the  same  sense  and 
with  the  same  intention,  died  for  every  one  whom 


142  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

they  address.  They  fully  believe  that  there  is  no  bar 
in  the  way  of  the  salvation  of  any  of  their  hearers  in 
any  decree  of  Him  whose  love  for  the  world  led  him 
to  give  his  Son  to  "  taste  death  for  every  man."  Nor 
are  their  expectations  of  gracious  and  present  results 
at  all  paralyzed  or  postponed  by  any  millenarian  ex- 
pectations which  tend  to  quiet  down  such  an  agony 
of  soul  for  their  converts  as  leads  them  to  "  travail 
in  birth  again  till  Christ  be  formed  within  them,"  un- 
der the  delusive  idea  that  the  power  and  extension 
desired  will  all  appear  "  when  the  Lord  Jesus  himself 
comes  "  to  accomplish  it. 

A  latent  Calvinism  or  a  premillenarian  theory  is  a 
very  poor  qualification  for  a  missionary  who  longs  to 
see  present  results  of  his  labor.  Ritualism — resting 
short  of  the  great  radical  change  which  is  conscious 
to  all  who  have  experienced  it — is  equally  misleading, 
and  leaves  little  results  of  spiritual  life  to  show  for 
their  labor,  even  when  half  a  century  of  toil  has  been 
expended.  How  much  better  to  trust  the  Gospel,  as 
retaining  its  entire  original  energy  and  grace,  and  of- 
fer at  all  times  immediate  and  conscious  salvation  by 
believing  on  the  Son  of  God,  as  did  Philip  to  the 
stranger  eunuch,  expecting  immediate  results,  and  so 
having  it  done  to  them  "  according  to  their  faith." 

Our  Methodist  missions  have,  without  hesitation, 
dared  to  stake  their  hopes  of  success  on  such  convic- 
tions. Are  they  justified  in  this,  and  what  are  the 
results  after  twenty-five  years  of  effort  ? 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  143 

Let  us  land,  and  see  for  ourselves  what  God  lias 
wrought  by  such  methods  and  such  faith  as  theirs, 
and  all  others  who  are  like-minded. 

On  the  8tli  of  October,  1883,  we  ran  into  the  mag- 
nificent harbor  of  Bombay,  and  dropped  anchor  amid 
a  scene  of  great  beauty.  It  was  the  morning  of  the 
holy  Sabbath.  The  air  was  warm,  the  water  smooth 
as  a  lake,  and  before  us  lay  the  open  "  gate  of  India." 
Bombay  is  probably  the  finest  city  on  the  Oriental 
hemisphere.  The  cotton  famine  during  our  Civil 
"War,  when  the  English  government  made  such  stren- 
uous efforts  to  lead  the  people  of  India  to  give  their 
energies  to  cultivate  the  plant  and  supply  Lancashire, 
gave  Bombay  its  grandest  opportunity.  Great  fort- 
unes were  accumulated  during  those  five  years ;  and 
its  merchants  vied  with  each  other  in  making  their 
city  worthy  of  tlie  wealth  that  poured  in  upon  it. 
Magnificent  parks  and  public  buildings,  wide  streets, 
and  all  the  modern  improvements,  were  created.  No 
city  in  the  East  ever  attained  such  an  accession  to  its 
splendor  as  this  one  did  during  that  period. 

But  their  heathen  civihzation  failed  when  the  press- 
ure of  prosperity  came  upon  it,  and  the  temptation 
of  "  making  haste  to  be  rich "  proved  too  much  for 
a  people  who  had  not  yet  cordially  accepted  the 
maxim  that  "  honesty  is  the  best  policy." 

Instead  of  being  satisfied  with  such  a  prosperity  as 
then  flowed  in  upon  them,  and  trying  to  be  conscien- 
tious in  theii*  efforts  to  retain  it  by  fair  dealing  with 


144  Fbom  Boston  to  Eareilly. 

their  new  customers,  tliey  began  to  tamper  with  their 
bales  of  cotton  to  make  them  weigh  heavier,  intro- 
ducing sand  and  even  stones.  But  thej  quickly 
"killed  the  goose  that  laid  the  golden  eggs."  The 
mill  owners  of  Lancashire  were,  ere  long,  disgusted 
and  exasperated  to  find  their  delicate  machinery  in- 
jured by  the  adulterations;  so,  as  soon  as  our  war 
ended,  and  our  southern  ports  were  opened,  they 
gave  up  depending  on  India,  and  went  back  to  New 
Orleans  and  Charleston  for  "  honest  cotton." 

We  had  made  our  run  from  Liverpool  to  Bombay, 
a  distance  of  six  thousand  two  hundred  miles,  in 
twenty-eight  days.  Just  as  nine  o'clock  struck  that 
morning,  a  boat  came  off  with  two  gentlemen  in  it 
wearing  European  costumes,  and  we  were  warmly 
welcomed  by  the  presiding  elder.  Rev.  D.  O.  Fox, 
and  one  of  his  members.  We  were  soon  transferred 
to  the  shore,  and  passed  through  the  customs,  and  by 
eleven  o'clock  I  was  standing  in  the  pulpit  of  our 
English  Church  near  the  Fort,  to  preach.  I  was  taken 
in  the  evening,  for  the  same  purpose,  to  our  Grant 
Koad  Church,  and  after  that  to  the  Bazaar,  to  the 
service  in  the  Mahratta  language,  conducted  by  the 
venerable  and  saintly  George  Bowen,  and  so  ended 
a  delightful  day  about  eleven  o'clock  that  night. 
Being  early  in  October  the  heat  was  very  great 
and  exhausting,  and  we  had  another  month  of  it  to 
endure,  before  the  cooler  weather  of  November 
would  come  on. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.        '       145 

This  was  my  first  glimpse  of  the  work  of  the  South 
India  Conference,  which  I  was  afterward  to  see  very 
extensively,  when  I  had  gone  over  the  field  of  the 
North  India  Conference,  my  old  sphere  of  labor. 

Letters  and  a  telegram  from  our  brethren  were 
here  awaiting  me,  urging  us  onward  to  Lucknow,  so 
that  we  might  be  in  time  for  the  Dasserah  and  Camp- 
meeting,  which  were  about  to  commence. 

We  hurried  up  our  preparations,  and  on  Monday 
evening  went  to  the  station  to  take  our  departure. 
Here,  too,  we  were  struck  with  surprise  on  seeing  the 
evidences  of  the  changes  that  had  come  over  India, 
not  only  since  we  first  landed,  in  1856,  but,  more 
especially,  since  we  left  it,  only  eighteen  years  ago. 

Then  the  only  way  to  reach  Lucknow  from  Bom- 
bay, a  distance  of  ten  hundred  and  ten  miles,  was 
the  single  seat  on  the  mail  cart,  or  else  by  palanquin, 
— a  litter  swung  on  a  pole,  and  carried  by  eight  men, 
for  each  person, — which  would  make  about  three 
miles  an  hour,  the  bearers  being  changed  every 
twelve  miles,  each  man  receiving  four  annas  (twelve 
cents)  and  buckshish;  a  slow  and  most  expensive 
mode  of  traveling.  The  journey  would  then  have 
required  eighty-four  changes  of  bearers  between  Bom- 
bay and  Lucknow,  and  would  have  cost  about  one 
hundred  and  ten  dollars  for  each  person  carried. 
Every  river  on  the  entire  route  would  have  had  to 
be  forded,  for  there  were  then  no  bridges,  save  occa- 
sionally a  rickety  bridge  of  boats,  and  the  time  con- 
10 


146  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

snmed  on  the  journey  would  have  been  (if  there  were 
no  detentions  or  breakdowns)  fully  twenty-five  days, 
including  the  Sabbath's  rest,  "  according  to  the  com- 
mandment." The  running  is  done  between  five 
o'clock  in  the  evening  and  ten  o'clock  next  forenoon, 
the  traveler  being  obliged  to  remain  under  cover 
during  the  great  heat  of  the  day.  It  was  very  tire- 
some, especially  for  ladies.  But,  in  the  new  con- 
dition of  things,  we  found  a  first-class  railroad  ready 
for  our  use.  The  carriages  were  remarkably  comfort- 
able, with  special  appliances  for  traveling  in  a  hot 
country. 

"We  chose  the  second  class,  having  a  large  compart- 
ment to  ourselves,  with  sofa  seats  to  rest  and  sleep 
on.  There  was  blue  and  green  glass  in  the  windows, 
to  moderate  the  glare  of  the  sun,  and  a  bath-room 
attached.  The  whole  cost  for  each  individual,  from 
Bombay  to  Lucknow,  w^as  only  thirty-six  rupees, 
about  fifteen  dollars,  the  class  above  being  twice  that 
sum,  and  the  one  below  only  one  half  the  amount, 
and  the  distance  was  run  in  forty-nine  hours.  What 
a  change  for  the  better  in  eighteen  years  was  here ! 

The  railroad  system  extends  all  over  India  now. 
This  line  continues  east  to  Calcutta,  a  distance  of 
fourteen  hundred  and  eighty  miles  from  Bombay. 
Then  from  Calcutta  to  Peshawar  there  is  a  line  eight- 
een hundred  miles  long.  Another  from  Bombay  to 
Peshawar,  "via  Delhi  and  Lahore,  is  eighteen  hundred 
and  fifty-six  miles  long,  and  another,  which  is  two 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  147 

tfiousand  three  hundred  and  ninety  miles  in  length, 
from  Bombay  to  Kurrachee  by  Lahore.  These  are 
the  longest  lines  in  the  country. 

When  we  first  entered  India  there  was  only  one 
short  line,  seventy-four  miles  from  Calcutta,  out  to 
Eaneegunge,  to  a  coal-field  there.  For  years  this 
was  all.  They  were  timid  about  proceeding,  as  they 
feared  in  regard  to  the  coal  supply ;  but,  finally,  they 
ventured  on  from  Kaneegunge  to  Benares,  and 
thence  to  Delhi,  and  found  coal  mines  as  they  pro- 
ceeded. When  they  reached  Delhi  a  mine  was  dis- 
covered near  Umbala,  and  on  they  went  to  Pesha- 
war. The  Maker  of  this  world  had  planted  the  coal 
where  it  would  afterward  be  most  required,  and 
it  was  ready  to  be  discovered  when  the  highest 
necessities  of  India  were  to  be  promoted  by  it.  The 
line  to  Peshawar  runs  along  the  outside  border  of 
our  mission  field,  and  now  another  line  has  been 
made  tlirough  its  entire  length,  called  the  Oude  and 
Kohilcund  Kailway,  from  the  city  of  Benares  to 
Allyghur. 

No  mission  is  better  furnished  with  facilities  for 
intercommunication  than  this.  In  twenty-four  hours 
our  missionaries  can  come  together  for  their  Confer- 
ence, and  this  at  a  trifling  expense.  Southern  India 
is,  also,  extensively  provided  with  railroads,  there 
being  lines  now  from  Bombay  to  Madras,  from  Ma- 
dras to  Bangalore,  and  on  to  Beypore. 

The  native  princes  have  also  caught  the  inspira- 


148  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

tion,  and  have  built  lines  in  their  dominions  ;  so  that 
in  the  Nizam's  territory,  in  Baroda,  the  Mysore, 
Scinde,  Tirhoot,  Kandahar,  and  many  other  native 
states,  the  princes  have  built  their  own  roads,  and 
connected  them  with  the  great  trunk  lines  laid  down 
by  English  companies  under  government  guarantees. 

The  telegraph  has  been  run  every-where.  Canals 
and  works  for  irrigation  are  nearly  equal  to  the  de- 
mand for  them,  and  famines  are  thus  being  made  al- 
most impossible. 

A  great  system  of  education,  higher  and  lower, 
aided  or  supported  by  government,  extends  through 
each  presidency.  A  system  of  the  cheapest  postage 
known  in  any  nation  is  available  to  all,  and  the 
"  money-order  "  and  "  parcel's  post "  systems  are  now 
added. 

India  is  already  in  "  The  Latin  Union "  for  out- 
side postage ;  so  that,  instead  of  the  "  thirty-eight 
cents,"  as  a  letter  rate  from  Boston  to  Bareilly,  and 
ten  cents  on  a  newspaper,  as  it  was  in  1856,  ^ve  cents 
now  carries  that  letter,  and  two  cents  the  paper.  ISTo 
other  heathen  nation  has  such  postal  facilities  as  now 
exist  in  British  India. 

The  whole  of  this  vast  aggregate  of  good,  and 
more  that  might  be  mentioned,  as  hospitals,  etc.,  have 
been  conferred  upon  India  by  the  Christian  civiliza- 
tion that  now  directs  her  interests.  While  peace,  in- 
telligence, and  valuable  improvements  extend  every- 
where.    Not  a  sword  can  be  drawn  by  one  of  their 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  149 

native  princes  against  another,  nor  a  drop  of  blood 
shed  from  year  to  year.  The  benign  oversight  of 
English  authority  forbids  it.  Of  course  there  are 
many  wix)ngs  yet  to  be  righted,  and  national  sins  to 
be  forsaken  (such  as  the  accursed  opium  traffic),  but 
the  past  and  the  present  are  a  guarantee  that  the 
future  will  be  better  than  this  if  the  same  course  is 
only  patiently  and  perseveringly  pursued,  as  no  doubt 
it  will  be. 

What  nation  could  have  done  better  for  India,  in 
view  of  the  circumstances,  than  England  has  done  ? 
Certainly  we  Americans  are  in  no  condition  to  "  cast 
the  first  stone"  at  her  for  her  failings  or  misdoings, 
while  our  own  sins  of  rum-selling,  Mormonism,  polit- 
ical self-seeking,  corruption,  Sabbatli  desecration,  and 
profanity  abound  as  they  now  do.  I  feel  constrained 
to  add  here,  that  I  doubt  if  there  be  in  any  land  on 
this  earth  a  civil  service  of  more  pure  and  accom- 
plished men,  or  public  servants  who  are  more  above 
suspicion,  or  whose  just  administration,  on  the  whole, 
gives  greater  satisfaction  to  the  millions  under  their 
rule,  than  is  done  by  the  civil  service  of  Great  Britain 
in  India :  while  their  generosity  and  sympathy  with 
the  work  of  our  missions  are  princely,  and  are  known 
to  every  reader  of  our  annual  reports  for  the  past 
twenty-five  years. 

But  here  we  are  in  our  comfortable  compart- 
ment, provided  for  by  our  Bombay  friends,  with  a 
well-furnished  lunch-basket  for  our  interesting  jour- 


150  !Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

viej.  The  shades  of  night  fall  before  the  Ghats  are 
reached.  We  cannot  see  them  till  we  are  returning. 
They  ascend  three  thousand  feet,  and  the  wonderful 
\;ailroad  climbs  up  round  them  in  a  way  that  sur- 
prises every  one  who  has  the  opportunity  of  behold- 
ing them.  This  elevation  is  exceeded  by  the  railroad 
which  crosses  the  "  Cumbres "  in  Mexico.  But,  al- 
though that  attains  an  elevation  of  over  seven  thou- 
sand feet,  yet  the  palm  of  beauty  must  be  conceded, 
in  some  points,  by  the  Mexican  line  to  these  Ghats. 

Early  next  morning  we  were  running  across  the 
plains  to  Khundwa,  and  evening  found  us  at  Jubbul- 
pore.  Another  good  night's  rest,  and  by  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning  we  ran  into  the  great  station  at  Alla- 
habad {Allah,  God,  ahad,  dwelling  or  city — the  city 
of  God),  at  the  junction  of  the  Ganges  and  the 
Jumna.  Here  we  were  hailed  by  one  of  the  offi- 
cials (a  telegram  having  been  sent  on  by  the  good 
folks  at  Bombay),  and  breakfast  was  offered.  One 
of  our  kind  entertainers  delighted  us  by  remarking, 
"  This  station  used  to  be  a  scene  of  constant  pro- 
fanity. It  was  dreadful  to  listen  to  the  cursing  and 
swearing  which  rolled  along  this  platform  from  morn- 
ing till  night,  and  this  from  officials  that  were  half- 
intoxicated.  But  God,  in  mercy,  sent '  William  Tay- 
lor's men '  in  here  among  us ;  a  great  reformation 
followed,  and  now  from  Monday  morning  till  Satur- 
day night  we  seldom  hear  an  oath,  or  even  a  loud 
word ;  the  men  are  sober,  their  work  is  well  done, 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  151 

and  ull  is  peace  and  gentleness."  What  a  testimony ! 
I  found  the  chief  of  the  station  was  a  class-leader, 
and  nearly  all  his  subordinates,  European  and  Eura- 
sian, were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church. 

After  hearty  salutations,  we  are  once  more  on  our 
way.  One  hundred  and  sixty-four  miles  still  lay  be- 
tween us  and  Lucknow. 

At  Jive  P.  M.  we  rolled  into  the  station  at  Cawn- 
pore,  and  were  then  within  the  bounds  of  our  own 
mission  field,  the  North  India  Conference. 

The  moment  we  stopped  there  was  handed  into 
our  compartment  a  great  tray,  on  which  was  a  cooked 
dinner,  smoking  hot,  that  would  have  well  fed  half  a 
dozen  hungry  people.  Truly  our  friends  were  taking 
care  of  us.  What  cordiality  and  kindness  they  were 
showing.  We  part  from  them  and  are  off  again,  this 
time  for  the  last  stretch  of  the  journey.  How  grand 
the  scene  appeared  as  we  ran  on  to  the  magnificent 
bridge  over  the  Ganges.  In  my  day  we  had  to  cross 
this  river  on  a  bridge  of  rickety  boats,  which  the 
floods  of  July  would  often  sweep  away,  and  then  a 
row-boat  was  the  only  way  across  the  wide  expanse 
of  waters,  which  overflowed  the  land  on  either  side, 
till  the  river  extended  to  several  miles  in  breadth,  and 
hours  were  required  to  cross  it,  usually  in  great  discom- 
fort on  account  of  the  rapid  current  and  tropical  rains. 

But  now  here  we  are  on  a  bridge  that  is  really 
a  grand  structure,  and  in  five  minutes  we  have  rolled 


152  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

over,  and  are  ready  to  give  our  three  hearty  cheers 
for  Christian  civilization  and  its  blessings.  Every 
important  town  we  fly  through  now  has  a  Methodist 
preacher  and  a  little  body  of  Christian  believers  in  it, 
with  the  means  of  grace,  and  a  school  for  the  educa- 
tion of  their  children.  But  the  last  forty  miles  are 
passed  as  we  come  in  sight  of  the  Alum  Bagh,  in  the 
center  of  which  are  resting,  awaiting  the  resurrection 
of  the  just,  the  mortal  remains  of  the  good  and  brave 
General  Havelock.  What  memories  the  sight  of  that 
dome  brings  back  to  us.  How  the  dreamy  aspect  has 
vanished,  and  the  awful  facts  of  the  days  twenty-six 
years  ago  stand  out  again  before  us  in  their  dread 
reality ! 

Five  miles  more  and  we  arrive  at  the  station,  by 
half  past  nine  o'clock,  and  are  in  Lucknow,  full  of 
gratitude  to  the  divine  goodness  which  has  brought 
us  so  far  iij  safety. 

As  soon  as  the  train  stopped  there  was  such  a 
hearty  burst  of  joyful  recognition.  There  stood,  to 
welcome  us,  the  presiding  elder,  Dr.  Johnson,  with 
Dr.  Waugh  and  a  number  of  the  brethren.  We  were 
hurried  into  carriages,  and  started  for  the  Mission 
House  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society, 
where  it  was  arranged  that  we  were  to  be  enter- 
tained. Nothing  is  said  of  any  reception  or  further 
demonstration,  nor  are  we  expecting  any  thing  of  the 
kind.  We  are  tired  and  sleepy,  and  are  longing  for 
quiet  and  rest.     But,  to  our  surprise,  before  we  reach 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  163 

the  last  turn,  where  the  Mission  House  comes  into 
view,  the  carriages  stop  under  the  shade  of  the  trees, 
and  we  are  asked  to  alight.  What  does  this  mean  ? 
It  was  a  surprise,  prepared  by  our  loving  friends  to 
amaze  and  delight  us.  When  we  got  out  of  the  car- 
riages we  were  put  in  line  two  and  two,  arm  in  arm. 
This  looked  rather  formal,  but  even  then  expectation 
of  any  reception  was  not  awakened.  I  quietly  sub- 
mitted, and  that  was  all.  When  we  were  adjusted  we 
began  to  move  on  through  the  dense  shade  till  the 
corner  was  turned,  then,  lo,  all  was  explained  !  Over 
the  gate,  now  full  in  view,  was  an  arch,  and  from  it 
blazed  out  in  golden  letters,  fifteen  inches  deep,  the 

glad  word, 

"^A^ELCOME!" 

Wliile,  lining  the  avenue,  from  the  gate  to  the 
house  were  about  three  hundred  native  Christians, 
the  men  on  one  side,  the  women  on  the  other,  and  as 
soon  as  we  emerged  out  of  the  shade,  and  came  into 
the  blaze  of  light,  and  were  seen,  there  pealed  out,  in 
their  own  language,  but  to  the  old  familiar  tune,  the 
glad  words : 

"Lol  subh  ki  roshni  ati, 

Tariki  hatti  dur ; 
Har  miilk  aiir  qaiirn  pati, 

Masih  ka  sachcha  niir." 

Which  verse,  being  interpreted,  means, — 

*'  The  morning  light  is  breaking, 

Tlie  darkness  disappears ; 
The  sons  of  earth  are  waking 

To  penitential  tears." 


154:  Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

The  effect  was  overwhelming.  Who  were  these 
who  were  thus  singing,  "  Blessed  is  He  that  couieth 
in  the  name  of  the  Lord ! "  Some  of  them  were  the 
dear  orphan  girls  whom  I  had  taken  up,  in  their  desti- 
tution and  misery,  twenty-five  years  before.  We 
could  pick  them  out,  by  their  gleaming  eyes  and 
their  grateful  tears,  as  they  looked  once  more  on 
^'  the  father  and  mother  of  the  mission,"  as  the}^  called 
us.  How  nice  and  clean  and  good  they  all  appeared ; 
how  glad  and  happy !  It  was  about  the  heaviest  test 
of  our  feelings  that  we  have  ever  known  in  life. 
The  emotions  were  overmastering.  I  felt  like  one 
dazed  as  I  tried  to  walk  up  between  that  rejoicing, 
loving  line  of  native  Christians,  with  their  pastors  and 
teachers.  There,  at  the  head  of  the  line,  on  the  steps 
of  her  hospitable  home,  stood  that  blessed  woman, 
Miss  Thoburn,  surrounded  by  her  staff  of  faithful 
helpers.  What  a  welcome,  and  what  a  contrast  was 
this  to  our  first  reception  at  Lucknow !  ]^o  com- 
mon words  are  at  all  warm  enough  to  describe  the 
scene,  or  to  express  Ihe  emotions  of  that  glad  hour, 
w^hile,  to  write  as  we  really  felt,  would,  to  those  who 
were  not  there,  seem  to  be  the  very  extravagance 
of  language. 

It  was  late  ere  we  were  able  to  get  away  from  our 
dear  friends  to  seek  rest.  That  rest  did  not  come 
readily.  We  realized  so  fully  that  we  were  actually 
back  again  in  Lucknow,  and  the  mind,  in  its  excite- 
ment, went  out  and  called  up  that  wonderful  past, 


From  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  155 

till  we  were  living  it  all  over  again,  as  if  it  were  only 
a  few  months  since  we  passed  through  those  experi- 
ences. The  excitement  and  joy  of  the  reception  of 
that  evening  contrasted  so  wonderfully  w^itli  our  first 
experience  in  that  city,  twenty-seven  years  before, 
it  is  not  possible  to  understand  and  appreciate  the 
present  until  we  recall  what  that  reception  was.  On 
the  29th  of  ISTovember,  1856,  we  first  entered  this  city. 
Our  note  of  introduction  was  to  the  gentleman  then 
in  charge  of  the  government,  pending  the  arrival  of 
Sir  Henry  Lawrence,  who  was  coming  down  from  the 
Punjab,  to  take  upon  him  the  heavy  responsibility 
of  administering  the  affairs  of  this  great  province. 

For  a  w^eek  we  w^ere  entertained  here,  in  "The 
Kesidency,"  which,  before  another  year  had  elapsed, 
was  to  become  so  famous  throughout  the  world  for  its 
wonderful  defense,  and  for  its  relief  by  General 
Havelock.  Some  of  those  with  whom  we  then  associ- 
ated were  destined  to  fall  victims  in  that  terrible  siege. 
How  little  they  apprehended  that  such  a  conflict  and 
such  sufferings  were  so  soon  to  come  upon  them. 

Our  entertainer,  who  made  us  welcome  to  the  hos- 
pitality of  his  home,  had  little  sympathy  with  our 
object,  and  gave  me  plainly  to  understand  that  he  did 
not  believe  in  our  success — even  went  so  far  as  to 
say  that  we  could  not  detach  one  of  these  people 
from  their  ancestral  faith ;  that  caste,  custom,  and  sen- 
timent were  all  too  strong  for  us,  and  intimated  that 
it  would  be  the  part  of   prudence  to  give  up  the 


156  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

effort,  return  to  Calcutta,  and  take  the  first  ship  that 
would  carry  us  back  again  to  Boston !  He  could  not 
think  it  was  safe  for  us  to  go,  when  I  proposed  next 
day  to  do  so,  alone  and  unattended  into  the  bazaar 
(the  business  part  of  the  city),  and  so  insisted  on  fur- 
nishing me  with  one  of  the  government  elephants,  an 
immense  creature  with  a  grand  houdah  on  his  back, 
and,  added  to  this,  an  armed  Sepoy  on  horseback, 
who  w^as  to  guard  me,  and  be  responsible  to  him  for 
my  safety.  All  this  was  considered  essential  by  this 
high  English  official,  not  for  ray  dignity  or  pleasure, 
but  for  my  safety  in  that  great  city,  the  capital  of  the 
Sepoy  race,  and  whose  people  were  all  armed,  and  so 
turbulent  tliat  a  spark  would  ignite  a  commotion  and 
set  them  fighting  at  any  hour.  My  American  j)ass- 
port  was  here,  probably,  of  more  value  to  me  than  it 
ever  was  elsewhere.  This  gentleman  recognized  that 
it  gave  me  a  claim  to  his  special  consideration,  so  he 
would  run  no  risk  of  my  going  unprotected  into  that 
bazaar,  where  he  feared  I  might  get  knocked  on  the 
head.  It  would  have  been  awkward  had  this  oc- 
curred, and  a  paper  come  six  months  after  from  the 
Department  of  State  at  Washington,  inquiring  what 
became  of  that  American  Methodist  preacher  who 
went  one  day  into  the  Lucknow  bazaar,  and  did  not 
come  out  again.  He  would,  in  that  case,  have  had 
hard  work  to  trace  me.  So  I  was  well  protected 
while  with  him,  and  he  saw  me  safely  depart,  no 
doubt  with  satisfaction. 


FuoM  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  157 

I  have  never,  in  any  city  of  India,  save  in  Hydera- 
bad last  year,  seen  such  a  hostile,  ferocious  population 
as  I  that  day  witnessed  in  Lucknow.  Indeed,  in  all 
its  aspects,  Hyderabad  last  February  reminded  me  of 
what  Lucknow  was  in  1856.  To  this  hour  no  mis- 
sionary has  ever  had  a  home  in  Hyderabad,  or  dared 
to  preach  the  Gospel  within  its  walls.  When  we  went 
through  it  last  year  it  was  almost  in  the  same  condi- 
tions as  formerly  in  Lucknow.  We  were  taken  on  a 
pair  of  elephants,  under  the  protection  of  Colonel 
Campbell,  commander  of  the  Resident's  escort,  and 
accompanied  by  an  armed  guard.  The  "Resident" 
is  the  English  embassador  at  the  court  of  the  Nizam 
of  Hyderabad.  This  State  is  not  ruled  by  the 
English.     It  is  one  of  the  "  protected  "  States. 

The  fanatical  and  armed  Mohammedans,  which  go 
swaggering  through  these  bazaars,  are  a  terror  to  every 
one,  even  to  their  own  government;  violence  and 
murder  are  of  constant  occurrence.  The  Nizam's 
own  life  is  not  safe — he  must  be  carefully  guarded, 
and  what  he  eats  and  drinks  have  to  be  scrutinized 
and  tested  with  great  care.  His  prime  minister.  Sir 
Salar  Jung  (considered  to  be  the  most  enlightened 
native  statesman  that  India  has  produced  in  our  day), 
w^as  hated  by  this  faction  for  his  liberalism,  and  died 
suddenly — it  was  feared  by  poison — only  a  few  weeks 
before  we  reached  Hyderabad. 

So  turbulent  are  these  fanatical  followers  of  Mo- 
hammed, that  the  English  government  (which  keeps 


158  Feom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

tlie  peace  among  them  all)  is  obliged  to  maintain  in 
cantonments,  three  miles  away,  twelve  thousand 
troops,  of  whom  six  thousand  are  British  soldiers, 
and  to  have  the  city  effectually  commanded  from 
certain  strategic  points  with  artillery,  not  for  its  own 
protection,  but  solely  for  the  peace  and  welfare  of 
this  Kizam  and  his  government,  in  this,  the  largest 
native  State  in  India.  The  Nizam  would  not  be  safe 
for  a  day  in  his  own  capital  from  those  furious  and 
ignorant  ^'lewd  fellows  of  the  baser  sort,"  who  are 
banded  together  and  infest  the  city,  were  this  pro- 
tection withdrawn. 

How  much  this  people  and  their  great  capital  need 
the  Gospel  of  peace!  God  grant  thst,  twenty-five 
years  hence — nay,  long  before  that  time— Methodism 
(which  is  already  in  the  vicinity,  at  Becunderabad) 
may  have  won  her  way  in,  and  be  as  peacefully  lo- 
cated here,  and  as  great  a  power  for  good,  as  she  is 
to-day  in  Lucknow  !  The  former,  in  that  case,  will 
then  be  no  greater  instance  of  the  int-^rvention  of 
our  wonder-working  God  than  the  latter  is  now,  and 
certainly  both  will  be  reckoned  in  the  religious  his- 
tory of  mankind  as  among  the  brightest  e^xamples  of 
the  power  of  providence  and  grace. 

l^ever  shall  I  forget  that  day,  in  1856,  when  I  first 
saw  Lucknow.  The  houses  are  flat-roofed,  and  being 
elevated  on  the  elephant  to  a  level  with  every  thing, 
I  there,  for  the  first  time,  saw  heathenism  av^d  Mo- 
hammedanism as  they  really  are. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  159 

I  had  been  reading  Bayard  Taylor's  book,  "  India, 
China,  and  Japan ; "  and  was  interested  in  his  descrip- 
tion of  Lucknow.  He  stood  on  that  iron  bridge 
across  the  Goomtee,  and  looked  at  the  flowery  city, 
and  wrote,  "  It  was  as  lovely  as  the  outer  court  of 
paradise."  But  what  unutterable  vileness  was  reek- 
ing within!  Here  were  men  and  deeds  that  were 
characterized  by  the  Holy  Spirit,  when  he  grouped 
such  together  in  the  fearful  words,  "  earthly,  sensual, 
devilish : "  but  which  may  not  be  further  particular- 
ized.   Enough  to  say,  with  Shakespeare, 

"  Not  to  be  named,  my  Lord, 
There  is  no  chastity  iu  words  to  utter  them." 

Here  were  not  merely  armed  ferocity,  raging  re- 
ligious intolerance,  but,  worse  than  all,  humanity 
fallen  so  low  in  its  rampant  and  shameless  vice,  as 
openly  to  debase  itself  even  unto  hell !  Truly  the 
closing  part  of  the  first  chapter  of  Romans  might 
have  been  written  of  Lucknow  as  justly  as  of  Eome 
itself.  1^0  wonder  that  there  is  a  hell  hereafter,  or 
that  the  Sepoy  Rebellion  was  permitted  to  come  and 
sweep  from  the  face  of  the  earth,  *vhich  they  defiled 
by  their  presence,  so  many  of  these  vile  wretches, 
"  who,  knowing  the  judgment  of  God,  that  they 
which  commit  such  things  are  worthy  of  death,  not 
only  do  the  same,  but  have  pleasure  in  them  that  do 
them." 

The  weary  hours  of  that  ride  drew  at  last  to  a 


160  Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

close,  and  I  returned  to  tlie  Eesidencj,  discouraged 
in  mind  and  sick  at  heart.  We  had,  evidently,  a  fear- 
ful work  before  us  in  our  attempt  to  evangelize  such 
a  people  as  this.  The  question  arose  at  last,  could  it 
be  done  ?  or  must  we  yield  up  our  hope,  and  adopt 
the  unbelieving  views  of  our  host?  The  dejection 
went  with  me  to  my  couch  and  banished  sleep,  till 
my  soul  was  filled  with  distress  that  bordered  on  de- 
spair of  accomplishing  any  thing. 

Here  was  this  guilty  and  colossal  heathenism,  that 
we  were  sent  to  overthrow,  pouring  down  its  fierce 
defiance  upon  us,  and  Satan  standing  at  its  side,  sus- 
taining it  with  all  his  policy  and  power,  both  evi- 
dently holding  us  in  contempt  and  scorn.  What 
could  weak  humanity  do  against  such  an  alliance? 
In  a  deeper  sense  than  we  ever  knew  came  the  words 
to  our  memory :  "  Not  by  might,  nor  by  power,  but 
by  my  Spirit,  saith  the  Lord."  How  self-evident 
was  this  truth  now.  How  small,  how  weak  and  little 
we  felt  ourselves  to  be.  Every  thing  that  looked 
like  self-sufficiency  had  fled,  and  a  painful  sense  of 
feebleness  had  come  in  their  place. 

I  understood  nc^t,  at  the  time,  the  process  through 
which  I  was  passing.  But  it  was  an  experience  that 
comes,  more  or  less,  to  every  missionary  who  is 
alone,  and  especially  at  the  commencement  of  his 
enterprise,  and  may  be  regarded  as  the  missionary's 
baptism,  when  God  fits  his  messenger  by  such  self- 
renunciation  and  such  absolute  trust  upon  the  Lord 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  161 

alone,  that  the  Ahnighty  can  use  him  as  his  instru- 
ment. When  a  man  has  gone  down  thus  low,  till  lie 
can  go  no  deeper,  with  self  renounced,  weakness 
keenly  felt,  and  God  only  remaining  to  be  trusted 
in,  he  then  looks  up,  and  humbly  asks  his  all-sufficient 
Master  and  Lord,  how  he  is  to  carry  out  his  commis- 
sion in  view  of  all  this  conscious  inability  ? 

God's  hour  has  then  arrived,  and  there  comes  down 
from  heaven  to  tlie  help  of  this  poor  weak  creature, 
what  Dr.  Judson  calls,  "the  surest  things  in  the 
universe,  the  promises  of  God,"  to  make  him  equal 
through  grace  to  the  difficulties  of  his  position.  He 
seizes  these  promises  as  his  own,  and  begins  to  rise, 
never  to  doubt  or  despond  again.  They  relate  to 
himself,  as  the  human  instrument  of  the  Lord's 
work ;  and  to  the  final  victory  in  which  that  work  is 
to  result.  To  such  a  man,  in  such  an  hour,  what  an 
inspiration  to  his  soul  are  the  words  which  meet  all 
his  own  deficiencies,  when  his  Master  says,  "  I  the 
Lord  thy  God  will  hold  thy  right  hand,  saying  un- 
to thee.  Fear  not,  thou  worm  Jacob.  ...  I  will 
help  thee.  .  .  .  Behold,  I  will  make  thee  a  new  sharp 
threshing  instrument  having  teeth :  thou  shalt  thresh 
the  mountains,  and  beat  them  small,  and  shalt  make 
the  hills  as  chafE." 

That  poor  "  worm,"  so  weak  and  breakable,  will  be 

made  strong  enough  to  thresh  the  mountains !     How 

wonderful,  -how  divine,  is  such  a  figure !     Then  for 

his  blessed  work,  and  its  result,  comes  dowm  into  his 
11 


1C2  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

soul  the  glorious  promises,  "  the  earth  shall  be  full  of 
the  knowledge"  of  the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the 
sea."  "  The  idols  he  shall  utterly  abolish,"  and  "  the 
Lord  alone  shall  be  exalted  in  the  earth." 

Blessed  baptism  !  for  he  is  now  "  endued  with 
power  from  on  high,"  and  need  never  again  doubt 
nor  be  discouraged.  He  knows  God  will  sustain  him, 
and  is  assured  that  he  shall  see  victory  over  sin  and 
hell,  and  shall  yet  sing  with  exultation  :  "  Now  thanks 
be  unto  God,  which  always  causeth  us  to  triumph  in 
Christ,  and  maketh  manife&t  the  savor  of  his  knowl- 
edge by  us  in  every  place !  " 

I  desire  to  say  earnestly  to  the  Church,  that  she  is 
honored  by  having  such  men  in  her  service  in  India 
(as  she  has  also  elsewhere,  no  doubt).  It  is  charac- 
teristic of  brave  men  that  they  "see  their  danger, 
and  yet  face  it."  These  devoted  brethren  have  cer- 
tainly done  this,  and  the  triumphs  of  which  I  am  to 
speak,  as  I  have  seen  them,  is  the  honor  that  God  has 
put  upon  their  Christian  faith  and  courage,  as  they 
have  toiled  for  her,  and  for  the  divine  Master,  in 
whose  name  she  sent  them  forth. 

I  have  furnished  the  evidence  of  the  seriousness 
and  risk  of  this  service  in  the  apprehension  of  the 
political  official  under  whose  roof  we  were  then 
sheltered,  as  well  as  that  of  Mr.  Tucker.  But  it  is 
due  to  the  facts  in  the  case,  and  to  the  glory  of  divine 
truth  and  grace,  that  I  should  add  one  or  two  testi- 
monies more  from  other  parties,  and  let  them  leave 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  163 

their  record  as  part  of  tlie  early  history  of  the  Meth- 
odist Church  ill  India.  One  of  these  is  furnished  by 
Bishop  Heber  himself,  the  author  of  the  hymn, 

"From  G-reenland's  icy  mountains, 
From  India's  coral  strand," 

whose  zeal  and  holy  courage  were  of  the  highest 
order. 

Many  years  before  we  entered  this  valley  he  had 
traveled  through  its  entire  length,  and  had  been  enter- 
tained in  this  same  Eesidency.  But  his  apprehensions 
of  the  serious  nature  of  the  risk  that  would  have  to 
be  run  in  any  attempt  to  introduce  Christianity  here, 
were  awakened  as  soon  aa  he  reached  Benares,  and 
realized  the  energy  and  fanaticism  of  this  race.  They 
were  repeated  when  he  reached  Lucknow,  and  had 
studied  the  condition  of  things  there.     He  writes : 

"The  custom  of  street-preaching,  of  which  the 
Baptist  and  other  dissenting  missionaries  in  Bengal 
are  very  fond,  has  never  been  resorted  to  by  those 
employed  by  the  Church  Missionary  Society,  and 
never  shall  be  as  long  as  I  have  any  influence  or 
authority  over  them.  I  plainly  see  it  is  not  neces- 
sary, and  I  see  no  less  plainly,  that,  though  it  may 
be  safe  among  the  timid  Bengalese,  it  would  be  very 
likely  to  produce  mischief  here.  All  that  the  mis- 
sionaries do  is,  to  teach  schools,  to  read  prayers,  and 
preach  in  their  churches^  and  to  visit  the  houses  of 
such  persons  as  wish  for  information  on  religious 
subjects." 


lG:t  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

At  Lucknow  lie  added :  "It  would  not  be  ex- 
pedient at  present  to  send  a  missionary  here ;  but 
the  J  might  have  a  school-master,  furnished  by  our 
society,  with  a  stock  of  sermons  to  be  read  every 
Sunday."  * 

Even  he  felt  the  overawing  influence  of  this  colossal 
and  fierce  resistance  to  Christianity,  while  the  pro- 
vision for  his  own  safety,  "  an  escort  of  fifty  armed 
men,"  requiring  "  three  elephants  and  twenty-two 
camels  for  their  baggage  and  tents,"  shows  what  was 
then  the  situation,  and  the  dangers  to  be  anticipated. 

But,  on  the  Bishop's  plan  of  doing  missionary 
work,  the  result  would  have  been  very  small  at  the 
end  of  twenty-five  years.  These  people  will  not 
enter  a  Christian  place  of  worship  until  they  become 
interested  in  Christianity.  There  is  no  other  way  to 
reach  them,  but  to  go  into  the  streets  and  market- 
places, and  there  address  them.  Of  course,  they  who 
first  undertake  to  do  this  accept  the  risks  involved. 
But  the  Bishop  thought  tliese  risks  too  great,  and  in- 
terposed his  authority  to  prevent  his  own  missionaries 
from  assuming  tliem.  Yet,  what  would  he  have  said 
had  he  then  been  told  tliat,  finding  such  methods 
were  necessary  to  their  success,  even  they  would  dis- 
card his  counsel,  and  would  yet  imitate  the  practice  of 
"the  dissenting  missionaries,"  and  that,  too,  not  only 
"  among  the  timid  Bengalese,"  in  and  around  Cal- 
cutta, but  also  elsewhere.     Or,  what  would  he  have 

*  Journal,  vol.  i,  pp.  299,  406. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  105 

thought,  if  told  that  missionaries  of  a  Church  of 
which,  probably,  he  had  never  heard,  would  ere  long 
come  here,  where  his  words  were  written,  who  would 
have  the  courage,  as  Mr.  Atherton  said,  "  to  face  the 
devil  in  his  den,"  and,  clad  in  heaven's  own  panoply, 
"  be  able  to  stand  against  all  his  wiles;"  having  to 
wrestle,  not  only  with  flesh  and  blood — misguided  and 
ignorant  Sepoys — but  with  foes  infernal,  who  inspired 
and  directed  their  rapine  and  rage,  as  they  fought  to 
close  the  gates  of  this  city  and  this  country  against 
the  Hedeemer  of  mankind  and  his  missionary  ministry ! 
Well  we  knew  that  we  have  had  to  wrestle  against 
more  than  visible  and  mortal  foes,  even  "  against 
principalities,  against  powers,  against  the  rulers  of 
the  darkness  of  this  world,  against  spiritual  wicked- 
ness in  high  places." 

How  would  the  Bishop's  amazement  have  cul- 
minated, had  it  been  added,  that,  within  ten  years  of 
the  time  when  the 

"  Rude  alarm  of  raging  foes," 

whose  head-quarters  would  be  around  this  very 
Residency,  another  Bishop,  when  that  Residency  had 
become  a  ruin,  and  a  perpetual  memorial  of  Chris- 
tian victory,  would  sit  calmly,  almost  under  its 
shadow,  organizing  those  missionaries  into  an  Annual 
Conference,  and  that  some  of  the  twenty-seven 
native  helpers  whom  he  appointed  to  labor  with 
them,  would  have  flowing  in  their  veins  the  blood  of 
that  Sepoy  race ! 


1G6  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

During  the  years  when  I  have  gone  round  my 
wide  district  in  that  land,  alone  in  my  palanquin, 
or  slept,  as  I  have  done,  in  a  caravanserai,  with  none 
but  natives  around  me,  and  no  white  man  within 
thirty  or  forty  miles,  often  have  I  reflected  gratefully 
on  the  wonderful  change  that  God  had  wrought  in 
Oude  since  Bishop  Heber  passed  through  it  and 
wrote  these  words. 

Nor  was  the  powerful  and  experienced  governor,  or 
the  lordly  and  gifted  ecclesiastic,  alone  in  their  solici- 
tude as  to  the  turbulent  character  of  the  race  north 
of  the  Ganges.  Believing  that  the  proper  way  to 
win  that  valley  for  our  divine  Master  was  to  occupy 
it  at  once  and  strongly^  especially  when  Christian 
civilization  had  shown  itself  to  be  invincible,  and  the 
apprehension  had  gone  down  deep  into  the  native 
mind  that  the  spread  of  our  holy  religion  was  inevi- 
table, I  had  proposed  to  some  noble-hearted  Christian 
men,  in  the  civil  and  military  services,  that  if  they 
would  stand  by  me  and  help  liberally  to  provide 
houses  for  them,  I  would  ask  for  twenty -four  mis- 
sionaries, and  occupy  with  them  all  the  leading  cities 
of  the  valley,  so  that  Christianity  might  rise  right 
lip  with  the  new  state  of  things  that  had  been  in- 
augurated. Their  valor  had,  under  God,  opened  for 
Christianity  a  grander  opportunity  than  it  had  ever 
before  seen  there.  It  was  their  victories  that  whipped 
the  fierce  conceit  out  of  those  subdued  millions,  who, 
in  their  ignorance,  had  undertaken  to  annihilate  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareillt.  167 

last  remnant  of  Christianity  from  their  country. 
God  had  used  these  brave  men  to  fulfill  his  promise 
to  us,  that  every  impediment  in  the  way  of  our  work, 
visible  and  invisible,  should  be  removed  :  "  I  will  go 
before  thee,  and  make  the  crooked  places  straight :  I 
will  break  in  pieces  the  gates  of  brass,  and  cut  in 
sunder  the  bars  of  iron." 

Tlie  pious  men  among  them  sympathized  heartily 
with  the  work  which  we  had  now  to  undertSike,  and 
for  the  fulfillment  of  which  their  sufferings  and  victo- 
ries had  opened  the  way.  So  they  subscribed  thou- 
sands of  rupees  to  aid  my  proposition.  Our  Mis- 
sionary Board  accepted  the  generous  aid,  and  prom- 
ised to  supply  the  missionaries.  I  drew  up  a  circular 
and  appeal,  and  waited  on  General  Sir  James  Ou- 
tram,  then  head  of  the  government  of  Oude,  in  suc- 
cession to  Sir  Henry  Lawrence,  who  had  been  killed 
during  the  siege  of  the  Eesidency. 

I  shall  long  remember  the  surprise  and  exclama- 
tion of  the  brave  officer,  as  he  finished  reading  the 
circular  and  looked  at  me.  He  was  in  his  office,  and 
surrounded  by  some  of  his  staff.  Handing  the  paper 
back,  he  exclaimed : 

"  >[ow,  sir,  do  you  want  to  provoke  a  second  Sepoy 
rebellion?" 

"  No,  Sir  James,  I  do  not,"  was  my  reply. 

"  Well,  sir,  this  looks  very  like  it ;  why,  it  is  an  in- 
vasion I  Twenty-four  missionaries !  "  Then  warm- 
ing up  more,  he  asked,  "Have  you  no  discretion ?    If 


1C8  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

this  thing  is  to  be  done,  can't  you  do  it  with  some 
policy?  Why  not  quietly  introduce  them,  one  here 
and  another  there,  and  not  alarm  the  kingdom  Avith 
your  twenty-four  all  at  once  ? "  On  he  rattled  in  the 
same  strain,  and  at  length  brought  up  with  the  decla- 
ration, "  No,  sir,  I  wont  give  a  rupee  to  help  your 
proposal.     It's  dangerous,  sir ;  it's  dangerous ! " 

It  was  all  in  vain  to  remind  him  that  they  had  to  be 
distributed  over  a  wide  area,  from  forty  to  fifty  miles 
asunder,  and  that  God,  wliose  Gospel  of  peace  they 
were  to  preach,  would  take  care  that  their  presence 
and  labor,  so  far  from  proving  a  danger  to  British 
rule,  would  become  the  source  of  great  strength  and 
blessing  to  it,  as  is  already  tlie  case,  l^o ;  he  was 
too  much  excited  to  see  it  in  that  light.  He  was 
alarmed,  and  would  give  neither  aid  nor  sympathy  to 
our  project ! 

!N^ow,  here  was  one  of  "  the  bravest  of  the  brave  " 
— the  man  who  acted  so  magnanimously  toward 
Havelock,  and  who  led  the  cavalry  so  grandly  on  the 
day  of  the  mighty  struggle  of  that  little  host  with 
the  whole  army  of  Oude,  crossing  the  Goomtee,  and 
taking  the  Sepoy  host  on  the  flank,  and  so  completing 
the  wonderful  victory ;  ^^et  he  shrunk  back  when 
asked  to  help  a  little  body  of  Christian  missionaries 
who  were  claiming  those  heathen  as  the  inheritance  of 
the  Son  of  God.  Not  all  the  rewards  and  decorations 
of  earth  could  have  induced  him  to  consent  to  lead 
these  "  soldiers  of  Christ  "  on  to  the  contest  with  "  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  169 

rulers  of  the  darkness  of  tliis  world."  The  brave 
man,  so  worthily  designated  by  his  contemporaries 
"  The  Bayard  of  India,"  sleeps  to-day  in  Westminster 
Abbey,  the  mausoleum  of  England's  illustrious  dead ; 
but  he  did  not  possess  that  celestial  courage,  con- 
ferred with  their  commission,  by  "  the  Captain  of 
our  salvation,"  upon  his  "called  and  faithful  and 
chosen "  servants,  who  would  dare  "  stand  u[)  for 
Jesus  "  in  that  Lucknow  bazaar,  and  enter  upon  that 
struggle  for  evangelical  victory  which  the  bishop  and 
the  general  both  regarded  as  so  full  of  peril ! 

Ah  1  many  a  missionary  has  won,  and  will  wear 
forever,  a  decoration  of  honor  and  triumph,  in  com- 
parison of  which  ''  The  Victoria  Cross "  and  "  The 
Star  of  India  "  are  not  worthy  to  be  compared. 

Occasionally  one  meets  at  home  some  people  who 
desire  to  be  regarded  as  wise  men  in  missionary  mat- 
ters, and  consider  themselves  capable  of  criticising  the 
devotion  of  their  brethren  in  the  held,  even  to  tlie  ex- 
tent of  depreciation.  Qt'^t  these  said,  some  time  ago, 
that  "  the  heroic^'^  ?,  vas  not  very  prominent  m 
our  modern  mis.,>jas.''  iow  little  such  people  know 
wliat  they  are  saying  hen  they  talk  thus,  and  how 
differently  they  wouki  expect  to  be  spoken  of  if  they 
themselves  had  stood  this  test,  and  these  gratuitous 
remarks  were  made  concerning  them  and  their  sacri- 
fices and  labors.  ;  If  there  are  ministers  on  earth 
regarding  whom  our  divine  Master  utters  the  cau- 
tion, "  Touch  not  mine  anointed,  and  do  my  prophets 


170  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

no  harm,"  it  is  such  men  as  these  humble,  modest 
missionaries,  whose  devotion  and  holy  courage  "  the 
apostles,  elders,  and  brethren  at  Jerusalem "  would 
have  gladly  commended  and  honored,  as  "men  who 
have  hazarded  their  lives  for  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus."  Such  men  can  afford  to  be  modest  and 
patient.  Their  work,  so  quietly  and  courageously 
and  well  done,  is  their  ample  defense.  Their  Master 
will  take  good  care  that  their  faithful  service  shall 
have  full  honor  and  reward  "  in  that  day." 

I  know  now  what  many  of  them  have  passed 
through,  and  how  long  and  patiently  they  have  borne 
"  the  burden  and  heat  of  the  day,"  doing  their  work 
free  from  ambition  or  self-seeking,  only  intent  on 
winning  souls  for  Christ,  and  desiring  no  human  ap- 
plause, but  of  whom,  nevertheless,  it  may  honestly  be 
said: 

"  Their  album  is  the  heathen  breast, 

Where  darkness  broods  and  demons  rest, 

Without  a  ray  of  light ; 

To  write  the  name  off  ^esus  there, 

And  point  to  worlds  V^\e  bright  and  fair, 

Is  their  supreme  de\.^^^; 
^  ^OSSl 

But  here  we  are  at  LuckrPV  again,  at  the  close 
of  a  quarter  of  a  century  since  that  interview  with 
Sir  James;  and  we  are  here  to  contemplate  the 
results  of  the  effort  which  he  declined  to  aid,  from 
apprehension  of  its  dangers.  Me'i^nwhile  our  mis- 
sionaries have  toiled  patiently,  wim  faith  in  God. 
They  have  said  but   little  of  their  \trials,  lest  they 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  171 

should  be  misunderstood,  and  have  spoken  modestly 
of  thdir  success,  lest  they  should  seem  to  boast.  In- 
deed, some  of  them  were  not  fully  conscious  of  how- 
high  the  tide  had  risen  around  them  till  I  pointed 
out  the  water  marks  of  other  days ;  so  that  I  had  the 
satisfaction  of  encouraging  them  by  the  comparisons 
I  was  able  to  make  for  them,  not  only  as  to  the  com- 
mencement, but  even  as  to  the  state  of  the  work 
eighteen  years  ago,  when  I  left  India,  compared  with 
its  advanced  condition  as  I  found  it  now.  It  was  a 
privilege  to  be  able  thus  to  "  strengthen  their  hands 
in  God." 


172  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 


CHAPTER  Y. 

"  So  did  I  speak,  because  my  heart  was  sore, 
Musing,  0  India,  on  thy  sins  and  pains, 
"What  time  I  stood  on  these  outstretcliing  plains, 

"Where  messenger  of  peace  ne'er  stood  before. 

A  generation  since  lias  passed,  and  more, 

Not  now  that  horror  of  great  darkness  reigns ; 
The  starless  night  of  desolation  wanes. 

And  their  fresh  songs  the  birds  of  raornliig  pour. 

Glory  to  God,  in  earth  and  liighest  heaven ! 

See  countless  souls,  in  throes  of  a  new  birth  1 

Soon  shall  heaven's  joy  that  ancient  sorrow  chase, 

And  loving  much,  because  so  much  forgiven, 

Shall  India,  trurapet-tongued,  proclaim  to  eaith 
The  unsummed  riches  of  redeeming  grace. " 

— Dr.  M.  Mitchell. 

The  morning  after  our  arrival  in  Liicknow  (in 
1883)  we  went  early  to  attend  service  in  our  English 
church,  a  beautiful  and  commodious  place  of  wor- 
ship. A  congregation  of  over  three  hundred  was 
present.  This  congregation  sustains  its  own  pastor, 
and  meets  its  expenses,  and  also  aids  in  the  work 
among  the  natives.  The  same  ma;y  be  said  of  our 
other  English  churches  in  Nynee  Tal  and  Cawnpore, 
and,  in  part,  of  those  at  Seetapore,  S  hah jehan  pore, 
Bareilly,  Moradabad,  and  Chandausi.  All  the  rest  of 
our  congregations  in  that  Conference,  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  in  number,  are  entirely  native  work. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  173 

The  life  and  power  of  godliness  are  well  sustained 
in  their  English  charges,  and  the  "  Desarah  "  meet- 
ings are  services  held  annually  during  the  "  Doorga- 
pooja  "  vacation,  for  the  revival  of  the  work  of  God. 
The  Oude  District  Conference  is  held  at  the  same 
time ;  and  this  is  immediately  followed  by  the  native 
camp-meeting.  Here,  of  course,  our  principal  interest 
was  concentrated. 

To  us  it  was  a  real  surprise  to  see  the  preparations 
for  the  camp-meeting,  made  in  one  of  the  large  cen- 
ters of  the  city,  under  the  trees  through  which  we 
came  the  night  before.  Expressing  our  astonishment, 
we  were  informed  that  sanction  was  granted  by  the 
municipal  authorities. 

The  English  government  has  of  late  been  wisely 
extending  liberal  institutions  to  the  towns  and  cities, 
giving  them  considerable  self-government,  under  the 
forms  of  municipal  corporations.  The  effect  is  good 
and  is  not  abused.  To  our  surprise,  here  was  this 
body  of  native  gentlemen,  who  have  become  so  con- 
ciliated toward  Christianity,  that  they  extend  to  us  all 
of  liberty  of  action  which  we  could  desire  in  our  work, 
and  were  kind  enough  even  to  loan  some  of  the  tents 
that  were  required  for  the  occasion. 

And  this  is  Lucknow !  and  these  are  the  people 
who  resisted  Havelock,  and  aimed  to  destroy  every 
thing  Christian  and  English  from  their  city  and  the 
country  at  large,  in  1857!  The  canrip-meeting  was 
held  under  the  trees  in  that   center,  where  half  a 


174  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

dozen  roads  meet,  without  the  slightest  disturbance, 
and  in  such  peace  that  we  had  not,  and  did  not  re- 
quire, a  single  policeman  for  our  protection.  I  will 
describe  one  of  those  meetings. 

Tlie  congregation  consisted  of  more  than  four  hun- 
dred native  Christians  inside  the  tent,  sitting  down, 
native  fashion,  on  the  carpet,  which  covered  the  wliole 
space.  Around  these  stood,  under  the  "  kanats,"  or 
wings  of  the  tent,  thrown  up  to  give  them  shade— an- 
other congregation  of  heathens  and  Mohammedans, 
who  looked  on  and  listened  with  surprise  to  all  that 
was  said  and  done  there.  The  praying  seemed  par- 
ticularly to  impress  them.  They  looked,  but  saw  no 
shrine,  no  idol  or  symbol  of  a  deity — on  tlie  contrary, 
our  prayers  were  directed  upward,  "  to  the  hills  from 
whence  cometh"  our  "help,"  because  our  God  vras  in 
the  heavens.  What  a  lesson  they  had  of  the  spir- 
ituality of  the  Deity  !  They  seemed  as  if  they  should 
not  forget  it.  Eight  hearty  was  the  singing,  and  the 
prayers  fervent. 

After  the  sermon  Dr.  Johnson,  the  presiding 
elder,  exhorted,  and  invited  penitents  forward  for 
prayers.  Several  came,  and  kneeled  down  on  either 
side  of  the  stand,  the  men  on  the  right  hand  side  and 
the  women  on  the  left  (the  sexes  sit  apart  in  India), 
and,  what  showed  the  good  training  they  had  received 
was,  that  with  each  penitent  there  would  come  forward 
one  or  two  of  the  church  members,  the  men  with  the 
men  and  the  women  with  the  women.     They  would 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  175 

kneel  with  them,  and  aid  them  all  they  could  in  seek- 
ing mercy.  The  whole  assembly  bowed  down,  and 
joined  in  the  effort.  To  me  it  was  a  wonderful  hour. 
Seldom  have  I  witnessed  more  fervent  pleading  with 
God.  The  earnestness  suggested  to  my  mind  the 
words,  "  There  was  a  great  cry,"  yes,  "  strong  crying 
and  tears  to  Him  who  was  able  to  save."  No  confu- 
sion, notliing  to  criticise,  all  engaged  imploring  mercy 
for  these  poor  souls. 

But  still  the  heathen  looked  on,  some  of  them  as 
if  awe-struck  with  the  wonderful  scene.  And  this 
was  in  Lucknow!  That  fact  kept  constantly  recur- 
ring to  my  mind.  I  reflected,  what  would  llavelock 
have  thought,  or  Bishop  Heber,  or  Sir  James  Outram 
have  said,  had  this  scene  been  foretold  them ! 

Yet  here  it  was,  not  in  imagination  or  hope,  but  in 
all  its  glorious  reality,  the  sons  and  daughters  of  the 
Sepoy  race  holding  camp-meeting  in  the  center  of 
the  Sepoy  capital !  God  had,  indeed,  "  chosen  the 
weak  things  of  the  world  to  confound  the  things 
which  are  mighty,  . .  .  that  no  flesh  should  glory  in 
his  presence."  Here,  too,  unto  these  people,  once  and 
for  so  long  without  a  ray  of  Gospel  light,  Christ  Jesus 
was  of  God  made  unto  them  "  wisdom,  and  righteous- 
ness, and  sanctification,  and  redemption."  Hallelu- 
jah !     We  glory  in  the  Lord. 

As  the  pleading  with  God  closed.  Dr.  Johnson  en- 
couraged those  who  had  come  forward  to  acknowledge 
what  the  Lord  had  done  for  their  souls.     Thirteen  of 


176  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

tliem  did  so,  and  truly  "confessed  Christ  before  men," 
then  and  there.  We  rejoiced  with  them,  as,  no 
doubt,  did  the  angels  of  God,  which  were  hovering 
over  us. 

During  the  meeting  there  were  some  converts 
baptized.  It  was  pleasant  to  witness  their  zeal  and 
earnestness.  One  of  the  party  was  old,  and  finding 
some  of  the  candidates  taking  the  vows  in  a  feeble 
voice,  he. called  out  to  them,  "  Speak  up  !  " 

Receiving  the  ordinance,  they  laid  their  i-ight  hand 
on  their  breast,  and  bent  the  head  forward.  It 
looked  so  devout,  and  for  them  the  holy  rite  meant 
60  much  more  than  it  usually  does  with  us. 

The  Sabbath  was  "one  of  the  days  of  the  Son  of 
man."  From  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  till  half 
past  ten  at  night,  service  after  service,  at  brief  inter- 
vals, had  filled  up  the  golden  hours.  The  love-feast  in 
the  morning  was  glorious.  Never  before  had  I  seen 
so  many  native  Christians  together,  or  heard  so  many 
of  them  testify  for  the  Lord  Jesus. 

The  women  were  as  ready  as  the  men.  And  the 
burden  of  testimony  was,  salvation  in  Christ,  and  how 
they  loved  their  Saviour.  One  venerable  man,  who 
had  tried  Hindu  rites  thoroughly,  gave  his  simple 
experience  in  this  fashion :  "  Brahma,  Yishnu,  and 
Shiva  did  nothing  for  me  ;  Satan  was  still  in  my  heart 
till  I  saw  Jesus." 

Surely  this  is  the  true  Gospel,  deliverance  of  the 
soul  and  life  from  sin  and  the  power  of  Satan,  by  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  177 

grace  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  received  and  confessed. 
Even  the  external  aspect  of  the  occasion  was  hon- 
orable to  Christianity.  For  every  one  of  them,  the 
poorest  as  well  as  those  better  off,  had  made  the  most 
of  their  circumstances  in  the  way  of  cleanliness  and 
tidy  clothing.  There  was  a  brightness  and  pure  as- 
pect over  the  scene,  which  intimated  their  conviction 
that  "  cleanliness  is  next  to  godliness."  The  women 
and  their  daughters  looked  nice,  and  their  dark  eyes 
gleamed  v/ith  intelligence  and  goodness.  On  each 
lap  lay  the  Bible  and  hymn-book,  ready  to  follow 
the  minister  in  the  service. 

In  all  India,  heathenism  could  not  furnish,  from  the 
same  class  of  persons,  such  a  scene  as  this,  even  apart 
from  its  piety ;  Christianity  alone  can  create  it : 
and  the  tendency  is  all  the  time  upward,  as  the  senti- 
ments born  of  intelligence  and  self-respect  develop 
themselves.  Their  bodies,  their  clothing,  and  their 
homes  intimate  their  Christianity. 

Slowly,  but  surely,  they  are  rising  as  a  class,  not- 
withstanding the  persecution  and  poverty  through 
which  they  have  struggled  up  to  their  present  stand- 
ing. Even  the  enemies  of  their  religion  are  beginning 
to  respect  them,  and  to  recognize  the  fact  that  Chris- 
tianity does  elevate  its  disciples.  I  could  clearly  see, 
by  contrasting  with  the  past,  the  change  and  improve- 
ment in  both  respects,  and  rejoiced  to  see  them.  But, 
precious  above  all,  was  the  religious  advance  that  I 

readily  recognized.     Here  was  the  grandest  improve- 
1*2 


178  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

ment.  l^o  longer  leaning  heavily  on  us  for  every 
item  of  instruction  and  spiritual  help,  and  yielding 
little  in  return  of  stimulus  to  our  faith  and  relig^ious 
feelings,  I  found  many  of  them  now  able  to  stand 
alone,  in  full  and  conscious  conviction  of  the  help  of 
the  indwelling  Comforter,  and  drawing  their  confi- 
dence and  strength  from  His  grace  and  guidance, 
rather  than  from  our  humble  and  reiterated  instruc- 
tions, as  in  the  days  gone  by.  More  of  God  and  less 
of  man,  in  their  experience ;  and  yet,  with  a  higher 
appreciation  than  they  had  before,  of  all  the  good 
that  we  can  do  them  by  our  instruction  and  example. 

Their  faith,  their  experience,  and  their  power  in 
prayer  have  begun  to  be  a  real  beneiit  to  the  mission- 
aries, and  a  help  in  carrying  on  the  work  of  God. 
'No  longer  having  to  take  them  by  the  hand,  to  assist 
them  over  every  little  difficulty,  they  can  now  "  run 
and  not  be  weary."  They  can  be  more  relied  upon, 
and  are  quietly  advancing  in  every  element  of  power. 

This  fact  was  pleasingly  illustrated  in  this  very 
service.  The  presiding  elder,  anxious  to  have  more 
divine  unction  in  the  meeting,  rose  and  exhorted 
them  to  seek  a  richer  baptism  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and 
proposed  that  we  prostrate  ourselves  before  God  and 
seek  it.  He  selected  the  person  whom  he  thought 
would  best  lead  the  audience  to  the  throne  of  grace, 
and  quietly  said,  "Will  Sister  Caroline  please  pray?" 
and  "Sister  Caroline"  did  pray.  How  evident  it  was 
that  she  knew  how — that  she  had  "power  with  God" 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  179 

— that  lier  faith  could  claim  the  blessing  and  bring  it 
down  upon  that  bowed  assembly.  There  was  more 
in  that  pleading  than  a  rich,  full  voice ;  there  was  an 
unction  in  those  simple  earnest  words  of  that  sister, 
as  she  talked  with  God,  and  implored  him  to  grant 
us  that  baptism  for  which  we  waited  before  liim. 
The  tone  of  the  service  rose,  and  was  sustained  to 
tlie  close,  by  the  blessing  which  came  down  in  answer 
to  the  prayer  of  that  native  Christian  woman. 

As  the  meeting  drew  to  a  close,  the  elder  rose, 
and  said,  "Now,  I  want  all  of  you  who  enjoy  the 
witness  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  consider  yourselves 
consecrated  to  Christ  forever,  to  rise  to  your  feet  in 
evidence  of  it."  My  heart  bounded,  and  I  earnestly 
looked  to  see  what  response  would  be  given  to  such  a 
proposal  as  that.  They  rose  in  all  parts  of  the  tent, 
so  many  that  I  was  surprised  and  delighted.  Some 
of  them  were  about  to  sit  down,  when  the  elder  said, 
"  Please  don't  sit  down ;  remain  standing  a  few  mo- 
ments while  I  ascertain  the  extent  of  this  testimony, 
and  until  Brother  Butler  can  see  what  God  has 
wrought."  They  stood,  and  he  counted  rapidly. 
Then  turning  to  me,  his  face  radiant,  he  said,  "There, 
Brother  Butler,  there  are  standing  before  you  now 
more  than  three  hundred  souls  that  God  has  saved ! " 

I  shall  never  forget,  the  joy  of  that  moment,  or  the 
adoring  gratitude  I  felt  to  Him  whose  high. work  of 
redemption  was  there  displayed  before  us,  with  all 
the  future  which  that  scene  intimated  for  Oude  and 


180  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

for  India,  as  well  as  the  past,  which  it  so  contrasted ! 
How  Utting  to  the  hour  and  the  facts  were  the  words 
that  rushed  to  our  memory :  "  Great  and  marvelous 
are  thy  works,  Lord  God  Almighty;  just  and  true 
are  thy  ways,  thou  King  of  saints.  Who  shall  not 
fear  thee,  O  Lord,  and  glorify  thy  name  ?  for  thou 
only  art  holy:  for  all  nations  shall  come  and  wor- 
ship before  thee ;  for  thy  judgments  are  made  mani- 
fest." 

And  this  was  in  Luchnow^  where  a  few  years  ago 
our  divine  Saviour  had  been  so  fiercely  blasphemed, 
his  claims  defied,  his  religion  trampled  under  foot, 
and  his  followers  slain  with  tlie  sword  !  The  locality 
and  its  antecedents  made  the  grace  seem  more  won- 
derful than  it  could  be  elsewhere. 

The  sacramental  service  in  the  church  was  worthy 
of  the  time  and  place.  No  caste  there.  How  Chris- 
tian it  looked  to  see  all  these  varieties  of  color  and 
race  and  class  kneelnig  round  that  altar.  The  Amer- 
ican, tlie  English,  the  Sikh,  the  Rohilla,  the  Eurasian, 
along  with  the  varieties  of  caste  from  the  Brahmin 
to  the  Pariah,  "  all  one  in  Christ  Jesus,"  all  sharing 
in  those  elements,  "  the  communion  of  the  body  and 
blood  of  Christ." 

The  central  figures  at  one  table  were  the  Kajah 
Hernaii  Singh  and  his  lady.  In  distributing  to  them 
the  elements,  and  remembering  who  he  was,  I  saw  an 
additional  evidence  of  the  power  of  our  mighty  Sav- 
iour.    The  Eajah  is  brother  of  the  reigning  Eajah  of 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  181 

Kupurthulla,  whose  father,  for  loyalty  to  the  English 
government  during  the  Sepoy  E-ebellion,  received 
certain  estates  of  defeated  rebels  in  Oude.  This 
brother  manages  these  estates,  and  is  reckoned  among 
the  nobility,  or  talookdars,  of  Oude.  These  India 
barons  are  numerous,  and  were  granted  by  the  En- 
glish government  some  special  immunities.  They 
are  a  powerful  body  of  men,  and  occasionally  meet 
together  at  Lucknow  for  consultation  in  regard  to 
their  interests,  which  they  can  thus  represent  to  the 
paramount  power. 

This  Kajah,  in  view  of  his  higher  education  and  his 
knowledge  of  both  languages,  they  elected  as  their 
secretary  and  medium  of  intercoui*se  with  the  su- 
preme government,  notwithstanding  he  is  a  Christian  ; 
which,  in  itself,  is  a  pleasing  evidence  of  the  tolerance 
of  mind  to  which  the  talookdars  of  Oude  have  come. 
His  lady  is  worthy  of  him,  a  noble,  educated  woman, 
the  daughter  of  a  native  Christian  minister. 

Our  mission  is  even  already  touching  every  class 
and  condition  of  society,  "  from  the  least  unto  the 
greatest;"  though  our  success  is  chiefly  among  the 
poor,  as  has  been  the  case  in  the  early  history  of  all 
missions  in  heathen  lands,  as  well  as  under  our  Sav- 
iour's own  ministry,  who  rejoiced  that  "  to  the  poor 
the  Gospel  was  preached."  But  we  look  for  the 
time  when  the  highest  will  bend  with  the  humblest 
at  the  feet  of  Him  who  is  "  Prince  of  the  kings  of 
the  earth,"  and  yet  who  delights  to  lift  the  lowliest 


182  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

of  those  who  love  him  to  rank  with  dignities  that 
shall  be  "  eternal  in  the  heavens." 

The  last  event  of  that  glorious  Sabbath  will  illus- 
trate this  point,  showing  how  the  very  humblest  of 
all  can  be  exalted  to  honor  and  joy  that  the  highest, 
who  refuse  Christ,  know  not  and  cannot  appreciate. 

The  benediction  had  been  pronounced,  and  we 
were  leaving  the  tent,  when  Rev.  S.  Knowles  came 
up  to  me  and  said,  "  Brother  Butler,  would  you  not 
like  to  hear  our  Jungle  Methodists  sing  ? "  It 
sounded  so  queer.  "  Jungle "  means  wild,  unculti- 
vated. It  was  a  curious  adjective  to  apply  to  Meth- 
odists. I  had  seen  about  all  the  kinds  there  are  of 
these  people  throughout  the  world,  but  here  in  India 
was  something  new, "  Jungle  Methodists! "  Of  course, 
I  could  guess  what  the  good  brother  meant,  ])ut  tlie 
way  it  was  put  provoked  a  broad  smile,  and  yet  there 
was  gladness  in  the  heart  from  tlie  fact  intimated, 
til  at  the  lonely  dwellers  in  the  Terai  had  already 
learned  to 

"  Join  in  the  glad  redemption  song." 

Yes,  indeed,  late  though  it  was,  we  did  want  to  hear 
these  Jungle  Methodists  sing.  But  a  few  words  of 
explanation  are  necessary  here. 

My  readers  may  have  seen  some  account  of  the 
good  work  done  by  this  faithful  missionary,  the  Eev. 
S.  Knowles.  This  brother  labors  close  up  to  the 
Terai  forest,  which  lies  along  the  base  of  the  Hima- 
laya Mountains.     Between  the  cultivated  plains  and 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  183 

the  foot  of  the  hills  is  a  space  of  about  thirty  miles, 
almost  entirely  destitute  of  human  habitations.  It  is 
called  the  "Terai,"  and  is  a  jungle — that  forms  a 
paradise  for  thousands  of  elephants,  tigers,  leopards, 
wolves,  and  other  wild  animals.  During  the  day- 
light these  creatures  lie  up  in  their  dens,  and  the 
lierdsmen  of  the  villages  on  the  outside  venture  to 
take  in  their  cattle  to  graze.  But,  as  soon  as  the 
evening  sun  declines,  they  must  leave ;  for  then  that 
stirring  scene,  so  graphically  described  in  the  one 
hundred  and  fourth  Psalm,  takes  place  :  **  Thou  mak- 
est  darkness,  and  it  is  night :  wherein  all  the  beasts  of 
the  forest  do  creep  forth.  The  young  lions  roar 
after  their  prey,  and  seek  their  meat  from  God." 
Often  have  I  heard  this  roaring,  as  I  have  gone 
through  that  Terai  by  night,  on  my  way  to  Nynee  Tal. 
Bat  no  one  dare  venture  to  pass  through,  or  remain 
there,  except  under  the  protection  of  a  torch.  With 
that  you  are  safe,  though  in  the  midst  of  it  and  alone. 
I  presume  that  even  a  child,  had  he  only  sense  enough 
to  hold  up  his  lantern,  might  walk  through  it  and  be 
safe.  They  would  "  roar,"  but  would  not  come  near 
nor  touch  him.  Such  is  the  security  of  light.  The 
fact  may  well  be  an  illustration  of  a  higher  protec- 
tion from  a  fiercer  foe,  "  the  roaring  lion,  who  walk- 
eth  about  seeking  whom  he  may  devour,"  can  seize 
the  human  soul  only  in  the  darkness  which  that  soul 
wilfully  prefers.  "  But  the  sober  and  vigilant "  are 
in  the  care  of  the  good  Shepherd ;  "  not  walking  in 


184  From  Boston  to  Baretlly. 

darkness,  tliey  have  tlie  light  of  life,"  and  are  safe, 
were  a  thousand  devils  prowling  round  them.  Their 
light  protects  them. 

The  British  government  realizes  most  of  its  reve- 
nue in  India  by  taxation  on  the  cultivated  land, 
which  is  tilled  under  a  settlement,  made  every  thirty 
years  with  the  agricultural  population. 

Inside  of  the  Terai  there  are  open  spaces,  unincum- 
bered by  trees,  where  the  soil  is  ricli,  and  here  the 
government  allows  people  who  are  landless  to  go  in, 
burn  off  the  grass,  and  break  up  and  cultivate  the 
soil,  without  requiring  taxation  from  them. 

These  people,  of  course,  assume  the  risk,  and  have 
to  provide  for  their  own  protection.  Not  for  one 
hour  after  sunset  could  they  or  tlieir  cattle  be  safe 
without  this  provision  of  light.  One  of  their  number 
has  to  be  watchman,  but  his  vigilance,  in  faithfully 
keeping  a  fire  burning,  is  ample  and  his  fellow- vil- 
lagers sleep  in  security  and  peace.  Our  mission  ex- 
tends its  ministry  over  some  of  these  Terai  cultivators, 
and  so  Christianity  dwells  with  them  in  their  jungle 
home,  and  is  all  to  them  that  it  can  be  to  those  who  rest 
amid  the  luxury  and  safety  of  our  highest  civilization. 

It  is  a  historical  fact  that  Christianity  is  the  only 
religion  on  earth  that  inspires  people  to  sing,  as  a 
part  of  divine  worship,  and  she  provides  ample  means 
for  the  exercise  of  the  privilege.  This  truth  is  in- 
tensified in  proportion  as  those  who  sing  are  evan- 
gelical and  holy.     Such  appreciate  that  "service  of 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  185 

song,"  for  wliicli  the  Lord  calls  when  he  says,  "  Let 
the  people  praise  thee,  O  God  ;  yea,  let  all  the  people 
praise  thee."  We  see  the  provision  which  evangel- 
ical Christianity  makes  for  this  dehghtful  duty  in  the 
immense  variety  and  number  of  the  hymn  and  tune 
books  which  she  furnishes  for  her  adherents.  Mo- 
hammedanism has  no  hymnal,  nor  has  Hinduism, 
nor  Buddhism.  No  glorious  outburst  of  sacred  song 
from  the  hearts  and  lips  of  these  people  ever  awoke 
the  echoes  of  any  heathen  or  Mohammedan  temple, 
and  never  will  till  those  temples  become  the  churches 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

Why  should  they  sing  ?  Singing  is  the  language 
of  gratitude  and  joy,  and  the  natural  and  sponta- 
neous expression  of  exultant  life.  Eedemption  and 
song  stand  related  as  cause  and  effect;  the  appro- 
priate language  of  salvation  is  singing.  When  God 
transforms  a  mourning  sinner  into  "  a  new  crcature  " 
in  Christ,  and  sets  his  feet  upon  the  rock,  and  estab- 
lishes his  goings,  he  finishes  his  work  of  grace  by 
"  putting  a  new  song  into  his  mouth,  even  praise  unto 
our  God,"  and  authorizes  him  to  sing  all  the  way  to 
the  heavenly  Zion,  where  he  is  to  sing  forever. 

Taking  up  a  concordance,  I  find  (without  enumer- 
ating with  accuracy)  that  so  important  is  this  joyful 
duty  in  the  estimation  of  our  redeeming  God,  as  a 
part  of  the  devotion  which  we  owe  him,  and  which 
was  designed  to  furnish  such  help  to  express  our 
adoration  and  joy,  that  the  words, "  sing,"  "  singing," 


186  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

"song,"  and  "praise,"  are  used  in  the  liolj  Script- 
ures about  three  Imndred  and  twenty -six  times. 
Instruments  to  aid  us  in  singing  these  praises  are 
commended,  and  the  examples  of  saints  and  angels  in 
heaven  are  given  to  encourage  us  to  exercise  ourselves 
in  this  holy  service,  so  helpful  to  genuine  piety. 

No  wonder,  then,  that  the  true  people  of  God  are 
so  fond  of  the  privilege,  and  tliat  not  merely  amid 
its  most  elaborate  manifestations,  where — 

"  Through  the  long-drawn  aisle  and  fretted  vault, 
The  pealing  anthem  swells  the  note  of  praise;" 

but  also,  and  often  more  sincerely,  in  the  humblest 
places  where  he  records  his  name ;  so  that  in  high- 
land glens,  in  catacombs,  in  deep  forests,  in  "  the 
inner  prison,"  and  even  at  the  stake,  God's  redeemed 
servants  have  ever  loved  to  "sing  unto  the  Lord," 
and  heartily  rejoice  "  in  the  rock  of  their  salvation." 

So,  these  humble  dwellers  in  the  Oude  Terai  are 
in  this  "true  succession."  They  sing  and  love  to 
sing,  and  also  desire  whatever  help  is  possible  to 
them,  that  they  may  do  it  "lustily  and  with  good 
courage."  Harps  and  cornets  and  organs  they  had 
never  heard,  and  could  not  afford,  but  they  saw  that 
they  could  consecrate  to  holy  purposes  the  simple 
expedient  used  by  their  heathen  neighbors  for  secular 
and  idolatrous  festivities ;  and  thus  the  humblest  of 
all  the  instruments  which  helps  the  praise  of  God's 
people  anywhere,  has  become  their  assistant  in  such 
glad  service. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  187 

A  gJiara — a  vessel  of  earth  baked  in  the  sun — is 
taken,  the  bottom  carefully  cut  out,  and  a  piece  of 
prepared  skin  is  laid  over  and  tightened  up.  The  left 
arm  is  introduced,  and  the  instrument  (which  did  not 
cost  ten  cents)  is  played  by  the  right  hand,  and  the 
sacred  song  is  started  and  sustained  according  to  the 
ability  and  enthusiasm  of  the  leader. 

Here  was  the  scene  which  Brother  Knowles  invited 
me  to  w^itness  at  the  close  of  that  delightful  Sabbatli. 
It  had  been  a  day  of  high  privileges  from  seven  jn 
the  morning  till  after  ten  o'clock  at  night,  and  these 
"Jungle  Methodists"  had  enjoyed  the  holy  festiv- 
ities as  much  as  anj^  one  else.  But,  even  after  that 
"  feast  of  fat  things^  and  wine  on  the  lees  well  re- 
fined," they  wanted  to  have  a  finish  up  and  consum- 
mation of  the  whole  in  the  method  so  dear  to  them- 
selves. 

We  found  them  sitting  in  a  circle  on  the  ground, 
the  leader  watli  the  ghara  in  the  center,  and  tliey  sus- 
taining him  w^ith  an  earnestness  and  delight  that  it 
was  a  privilege  to  witness.  No  careless  one  in  that 
liappy  group.  Every  soul  seemed  intent,  and  sang  as 
if  they  were  resolved  to  get  out  of  the  song  and  the 
instrument  all  the  jubilation  it  was  possible  to  obtain 
from  them. 

The  song  was  a  hhajan^  with  verses  having  two 
lines  each,  and  a  chorus  to  them.     It  was  all  about 

"  Tlie  precious  blood, 

That  cleanseth  from  all  sin." 


188  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

Deep  sympathy  with  the  fervent  and  holy  song 
seemed  to  absorb  all  their  attention,  and  their  bod- 
ies swayed  to  and  fro  as  they  sung  so  rapturously. 
After  listening  a  long  time  we  left  them  singing,  and 
I  believe  they  continued  till  near  midnight. 

Some  one  has  written  that 

"  Music  hath  charms  to  soothe  the  savage  breast, 
To  soften  rocks,  or  bend  a  knotted  oak." 

I  have  never  l)eheld  rocks  and  oaks  so  miraculously 
affected,  but  have  seen  here  "greater  things  than 
these."  Heathen  breasts  not  only  "soothed,"  but  en- 
raptured ;  heathen  hearts  not  only  "  softened,"  but 
renewed;  and  rugged  wills  and  lives  not  only 
"  bent,"  but  sweetly  pliant  to  the  rectitude  of  a  holy 
life,  all  to  the  praise  and  glory  of  God. 

Modern  miracles  truly,  wrought  on  the  bodies  and 
souls  of  some,  even  of  the  lowliest  of  mankind. 

The  proud  deluded  worldlings,  who  give  their  gold 
for  the  opportunity  of  listening  to  the  godless  strains 
of  the  theater  and  opera, — sung  often  by  libertines 
and  women  of  clouded  reputation, — would,  perhaps, 
have  no  smile  to  bestow  upon  this  simple  music  of 
the  soul.  But  they  are  incapable  of  understanding 
or  appreciating  either  its  source  or  its  object.  JS'ev- 
ertheless,  it  is  true  that,  to  such  strains  as  these,  de- 
lighted angels  would  stoop  to  listen,  while  disgusted 
devils,  unable  to  endure  the  theme  that  so  enraptured 
them,  would  hasten  to  flee  away !     Their  sanctifying 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  189 

song  is  not  the  felicity  of  an  hour,  nor  does  it  last, 
like  the  pleasures  of  sin,  only  "for  a  season."  It 
"  springs  up  into  everlasting  life ;  "  they  are  singing 
now,  and  ere  long  will  join  the  music  of  the  skies, 
and  be  entitled  to  listen  enraptured  to 

"  The  first  archangel  as  he  sings,"  ^ 

and  then  claim  their  share  in  the  mighty  chorus  of 
the  saved  and  unfallen  Church  of  the  Crucified. 

They  were  a  happy  circle,  those  "  Jungle  Method- 
ists," and  forcibly  reminded  us  of  the  divine  predic- 
tion, which  was  here  literally  fulfilled,  that  "they 
that  dwell  in  the  wilderness  shall  bow  before  Him." 

The  work  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary 
Society  in  Lucknow,  under  the  efficient  superintend- 
ency  of  Miss  Thoburn,  was  to  us  a  wonder  and  a 
joy.  What  could  more  fully  indicate  the  amazing 
changes  that  God  has  accomplished  here  than  the 
presence  and  successful  labors  of  this  devoted  band 
of  Christian  women  ?  Further  on,  when  I  shall  have 
seen  more  of  this  precious  form  of  missionary  service, 
I  will  speak  in  detail  regarding  it,  and  shall  then  also 
have  more  opportunity,  as  there  will  not  be  so  much 
to  be  described  as  there  is  in  Lucknow,  in  view  of 
the  extent  and  variety  of  our  agency  in  this  great 
city. 

Miss  Blackmar's  peculiar  work,  in  her  "  Home  for 
Homeless  Women,"  is  one  of  heaven's  richest  chari- 
ties.     Divine  providence  has  placed  in    her  hands 


190  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

premises  near  our  clinrcli,  and  tliese  grateful  women, 
rescued  and  saved  by  Christian  sympathy,  are  doing 
all  they  can  by  their  labor,  according  to  their  ability, 
to  support  themselves,  so  that,  with  some  help,  given 
by  Christian  friends  in  Lucknow,  the  wants  of  the 
institution  arc  all  met. 

It  was  our  great  privilege  to  be  in  time  to  attend 
the  dedication  of  our  Centennial  Iligli  School,  and 
witness  the  annual  distribution  of  prizes. 

For  many  years  this  school  had  been  desired  and 
prayed  for  by  our  mission.  Its  existence  was  a  neces- 
sity resulting  from  our  success.  With  thirteen  thou- 
sand children  in  our  day  schools,  receiving  a  Christian 
education,  and  with  a  native  ministry  to  train,  this 
school  became  of  supreme  importance  to  the  standing 
and  extension  of  our  great  work  in  India. 

It  was  opened  in  February,  1877,  with  forty  stu- 
dents, and,  notwithstanding  the  inconvenience  of  the 
rented  building  in  which  it  was  held,  until  proper 
premises  could  be  procured,  the  attendance  has  risen 
regularly  year  by  year,  until  three  hundred  and  fifty 
students  are  now  enrolled  upon  its  books. 

God  answered  the  prayer  of  our  brethren,  and  at 
last  a  suitable  site  was  obtained,  and  funds  for  the 
erection  of  a  good  building  were  contributed — a  fine 
campus  of  six  acres,  on  an  elevation  close  to  the  Resi- 
dency^  was  donated  by  the  native  municipality,  and 
they  added  a  grant  of  four  thousand  rupees  for  the 
erection  of  the  tower  and  clock. 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  191 

A  suitable  building,  with  chapel  and  twelve  reci- 
tation-rooms,  had  been  completed,  and  were  to  be 
dedicated  on  this  occasion.  It  may  interest  my  readers 
to  look  at  the  programme,  so  I  insert  it  here. 

CENTENNIAL  HIGH  SCHOOL. 


DISTRIBUTION  OF  PEIZES. 

Lucknow,  Dec.  1,  1883. 
CHAIR  TO  BE  TAKEN  BY  J.  QUINN,  ESQ.,  C.  S., 

COMMISSIONER   OF   LUCKNOW. 

Anthem Arouse  Tliee  ! 

(Christianity's  Call  to  India.) 

PRAYER  BY  REV.  DR.  JOHNSON. 

Urdu  Poem.  .Praise  of  the  New  School  Building^  and  Welcome  to 

Dr.  Butler. 

Shunker  Dayal  Farhat. 

English  Essay Education. 

Isaac  Angelo. 
Song Keep  to  tJie  Right^  Boys  1 

Sanskrit  Poem The  Mystery  of  Life. 

Probodh  Chunder  Roy. 

Arabic  Essay Morality. 

Saiyad  Mahammed  GhulIm  Jabbar. 

Bengali  Poem  .... /m?ia's    Welcome   to   the  Duke  and  Duchess    of 

Connaiiglii. 

Dinonath  Chuckerbutty. 

Native  Bhajan Mubarakhadi  e  Jalsa. 

B.  Mayal  BahXr. 

Persian  Essay The  Centennial  High  School. 

Amir  All 

Hindi  Verses Kabir  Dds^  Philosophy. 

Abinath  Chdnder  Roy. 

Urdu  Prose  Composition  .  Episode  in  the  Life  of  an  Indian  School-boy, 
Thomas  Barrow. 


192  I'kom  Boston  to  Baretlly. 

Song,  Tkancadillo  . .  Invitation  to  a  Sailing  Excursion  on  the  Goomtee 

Nodi. 

ANNUAL  REPORT  OF  THE  PRINCIPAL. 

Distribution  of  Prizes. 

ADDRESS  BY  THE  CHAIRMAN,  J.  QUINN,  ESQ. 

Hymn "  Bringing  in  the  Sheaves.'''* 

Address The  Opening  of  t/ie  New  Sclwol  Building. 

Rev.  W  Butler,  D.D. 

Declaring  the  New  Building  Open  for  Educational  Purposes. 

By  the  Commissioneb. 
"Malika  Salamat  Ho." 


Even  "  Trancadillo"  was  a  sign  of  tlie  times.  Here 
was  "  the  tender  passion  "  doing  homage  to  woman. 
The  song  was  addressed  to  the  "fair  maidens"  pres- 
ent, by  the  gallant  young  gentlemen,  asking  the  honor 
of  their  company  in  a  sailing  excursion  on  the  River 
Goomtee,  which  flows  through  Lucknow,  and  avow- 
ing that, 

"  The  lovely  should  still 
Be  the  care  of  the  brave," 

and  also  pledging  themselves,  if  the  "  maidens  fair " 
would  only  accompany  them,  that, 

"  We  will  shape  our  heart's  course 
By  the  light  of  your  smiles." 

It  was  but  a  little  thing,  yet  it  intimated  the  future 
that  Christianity  is  bringing  in  for  woman,  when  she 
should  be  no  longer  disposed  of,  in  the  highest  inter- 
ests of  her  life,  as  though  she  were  a  cow  or  a  bale  of 
merchandise,  at  the  selfish  whim  of  her  natural  pro- 
tectors.     But,  when  her  intelligent  soul  will  be  ad- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  193 

dressed  in  tones  respectful  and  affectionate,  and 
invited  to  link  lier  life  with  the  person  she,  in  the 
freedom  of  her  choice,  prefers — Christianity  will  vin- 
dicate the  right  of  honest  nature  to  speak,  and  to  hear, 
and  to  respond ;  and  the  good  God  will  deliglit  to 
look  down  upon  many  a  quiet  scene  (now  unknown 
there  outside  of  Christianity)  where  manly  Christian 
youth  will  plead  his  own  case  in  person,  and  win  it, 
too,  not  by  his  list  of  '^  gift  and  dowry,"  and  the  me- 
diation of  a  go-between,  but  because  "he  spoke  to 
the  heart  of  the  damsel." 

On  this  programme  let  me  ask  attention  to 'a  few 
facts.  This  event  occurred  in  Lucknow,  and  close 
to  that  ever-famous  Eesidency.  The  gentleman  pre- 
siding is  the  English  governor  of  that  city,  and  by  his 
side  sat  tlie  Christian  liajah,  Hernan  Singh,  already 
mentioned.  The  building  was  crowded  with  the  schol- 
ars and  their  parents  and  friends,  about  one  half  of 
the  number  being  heathen  and  Mohammedans.  Many 
of  the  elite  of  the  city  were  among  them,  and  seemed 
to  enjoy  the  occasion  and  the  exercises  as  much  as 
any  one  else.  The  graduates  nsed  seven  languages  in 
their  papers — the  Urdu  (Hindustanee),  the  Hindee, 
and  Bengalee,  with  their  classics  (the  Persian,  the 
Arabic,  and  Sanskrit),  besides  the  English.  It  is  a 
sign  of  the  times  that  one  half  of  the  exercises  on 
that  occasion  were  in  the  English  tongue.  It  was  a 
decidedly  Christian  occasion.     There  was  the  opening 

prayer,  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  offered  by  the  presiding 
13 


194  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

elder.      The  antliem  was  glorious.      It  was  "Cliris- 
tianitj's  Call  to  India."     I  give  tlie  words  here ! 

"Arouse  thee!    Arouse  thee!   Arouse  thee  I 
From  slumber !   Arouse  thee  ! 

From  the  dead  arise, 
Christ  will  give  thee  light ; 

Trust  in  him  forever, 
He  thy  rock,  thy  strength  and  might, 
Thy  sword,  thy  banner  and  shield. 
Awake !   Awake !   Arise  from  the  dead ! 

Arouse  thee  I  Arouse  thee !  Arouse  thee  1  " 

The  closing  hymn,  "Bringing  in  the  Sheaves,"  was 
appropriate  to  the  occasion.  What  its  significance 
was  to  us,  in  view  of  the  past,  my  readers  may- 
imagine. 

In  my  address,  which  followed  this  hymn,  I  recog- 
nized what  God  had  wrought  in  Lucknow  since  I 
first  entered  it,  to  make  such  a  scene  as  this  possible ; 
and  then  called  the  attention  of  our  worthy  chairman 
to  the  discouragement  which  I  received  from  his  pred- 
ecessor in  office  twenty-seven  years  before. 

He  seemed  surprised  that  any  Englishman  or 
Christian  could  doubt  the  ability  of  our  holy  religion 
to  reach  and  save  these  people,  or  any  people. 
But  words  would  fail  to  express  adequately  what 
that  occasion  was  to  us  in  view  of  the  fearful  past, 
with  which  our  memory  kept  all  the  time  contrast- 
ing it ! 

We  finished  with  a  hearty  singing  by  all  present 
of  the  last  item-  on  the  programme,  "  Malika  salamat 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  195 

ho-'  (God  save  the  Queen),  in  the  Ilindustanee  lan- 
guage.    I  give  the  words  : 

"  Malika  salamat  ho 
Ya  Allah  Malika  ko 

Rakh  tu  bakhah" : 
Kar  tu  use  fathmand, 
Khush-hal  aur  sarbuland, 
Raj  us  ka  iqbalraand : 

Malika  ki  khuir  ! " 

The  value  of  this  Christian  college  to  our  work  in 
India  must  be  clear  to  every  thoughtful  person ;  but 
here  1  will  quote  a  few  sentences  in  illustration  of 
this  from  the  circular  of  Eev.  B.  H.  Badley,  A.M., 
the  present  principal  of  the  college : 

"  During  the  first  two  years  only  Christian  students 
were  admitted  ;  but  as  others  desired  to  attend,  and 
were  willing  to  study  the  Bible  and  conform  to  all 
the  regulations  of  the  school,  they  were  enrolled  as 
day-scholars,  and  Christians  and  non-Christians  are 
now  found  in  all  the  classes.  The  plan  has  worked 
well,  and  it  is  hoped  that  the  daily  contact  with 
Christian  teachers  and  students  may  be  the  means  of 
bringing  many  of  the  others  to  Christ,  and  that  tlie 
institution  may  thus  become  a  powerful  evangelizing 
agency.  The  Bible  is  a  daily  text-book,  and  in  the 
lower  classes  the  Church  Catechisms  are  taught. 
While  the  school  is  chiefly  intended  for  Cliristian 
boys,  its  projectors  feel  that  they  are  justified  in 
seeking  to  extend  the  sphere  of  its  helpful  influence, 


196  Feom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

aud  tlius,  following  the  example  of  the  Christian  col- 
leges in  Calcutta,  Madras,  and  elsewhere,  they  do  not 
close  its  doors  to  the  Hindu  and  Mohammedan  youth 
who  seek  admission. 

"  The  need  of  such  an  institution  is  seen  in  the  fact 
that  already  the  school  has  drawn  students  from  all 
parts  of  Central  and  North  India,  from  Calcutta,  Al- 
lahabad, Cawnpore,  Agra,  Gujrat,  Jeypore,  Morada- 
bad,  Bareilly,  Shahjahanpore.  Paori,  and  elsewhere ; 
and  now,  with  suitable  buildings,  and  a  strong  staff 
of  first-class  teachers,  there  is  no  doubt  that  the  at- 
tendance will  speedily  be  doubled. 

"  The  patronage  of  the  school  is  not  confined  to 
our  own  Church.  Students  in  attendance  have  rep- 
resented the  Church  of  England,  the  Presbyterian, 
United  Presbyterian,  Wesleyan,  Baptist,  and  other 
Churches,  and  thus  it  will  be  in  the  future.  Within 
a  circle  of  four  hundred  and  fifty  miles  there  is  no 
other  boarding-school  for  Christian  boys,  and  in  the 
territory  thus  indicated  there  are  several  flourishing 
missions.  The  popularity  of  our  Theological  Sem- 
inary at  Bareilly  has  drawn  students  of  other  Church- 
es in  distant  fields,  and  our  Christian  College  will  be 
able  to  do  the  same. 

"  This  school  will  be  a  great  boon  to  our  rapidly- 
increasing  native  Christian  community.  It  will  in- 
sure to  the  sons  of  our  converts  educational  facilities 
which  otherwise  they  could  not  enjoy,  and  will  thus 
give  a  preparation  which  will  enable  them  to  com- 


Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  197 

pete  for  situations  in  government  service  and  other 
departments  which  have  liitherto  been  virtually  closed 
to  them.  As  missionaries  of  a  progressive  Church, 
which  has  always  believed  in  schools  and  colleges, 
encouraging  in  the  most  practical  manner  every  ef- 
fort for  furthering  the  cause  of  education,  we  cannot 
but  feel  concerned  for  the  converts  God  is  giving  us 
in  India.  We  want  not  only  a  Church,  but  a  strong, 
intelligent,  clear-headed,  warm-hearted  Church  in 
India,  which  shall  be  the  means,  in  God's  hands,  of 
advancing  the  interests  of  his  kingdom  here.  We 
would  not  be  content  to  have  our  converts  and  their 
children  remain  in  the  same  low  level  of  intelligence 
where  the  Gospel  found  them.  We  wish  for  them 
growth,  advancement,  success ;  and  one  of  the  wisest 
methods  for  insuring  these  is  to  found  good  schools, 
whose  uplifting  influence  shall  be  felt  in  years  to 
come. 

"This  institution,  supplementing  the  work  of  the 
lower  schools  in  the  mission,  gives  unity  and  com- 
pleteness to  our  educational  system,  and  thus  adds  to 
the  efficiency  and  satisfactoriness  of  all  our  educa- 
tional work ;  without  it  we  should  have  the  discour- 
agement of  seeing  our  most  interesting  pupils  de- 
prived of  religious  instruction  at  the  most  critical 
period  of  their  education.  In  training  young  men  to 
become  teachers  this  school  will  do  excellent  service, 
as  the  demand  in  all  parts  of  the  field  is  rapidly  in- 
creasing.    We  could  employ  two  hundred  Christian 


198  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

teacliers  at  once  were  they  available.  As  they  are 
not,  we  are  obliged  to  intrust  many  of  our  primary 
schools  to  Hindu  and  Mohammedan  teachers. 

"  The  Christian  College,  like  similar  institutions  at 
home,  will,  also,  be  of  assistance  to  our  Theological 
Seminary.  By  giving  our  young  men  a  thorough 
education  before  sending  them  to  the  Theological 
School  we  shall  render  both  them  asd  India  Meth- 
odism valuable  service.  Our  work  demands  educated 
native  preachers,  and  this  demand  will  be  more 
keenly  felt  every  year.  In  towns  and  villages  much 
of  the  work  can  be  done  by  those  whose  scholastic 
attainments  are  not  high — earnest,  humble  workers, 
laboring  among  their  own  relatives ;  but  in  our  city 
w^ork,  and  in  various  appointments,  w^e  must  have 
well-educated  helpers,  able  to  answer  the  numerous 
and  often  difficult  objections  which  our  opponents 
bring  forward.  Out  of  the  one  hundred  and  fifty 
native  preachers  now  employed  in  the  North  India 
Conference,  only  one  has  23assed  the  Calcutta  Uni- 
versity Entrance  Examination  (matriculation),  a  fact 
which  speaks  for  itself,  and  a  very  strong  argument 
in  favor  of  a  well-organized  Christian  college.  Sev- 
eral of  the  most  promising  students  now  attending 
the  Centennial  School  are  planning  to  enter  the  The- 
ological Seminary  at  Bareilly,  and  this  number  no 
doubt  will  be  larger  year  by  year. 

''  We  find  ourselves  in  the  midst  of  a  great  educa- 
tional movement.     The  intellect  of  India  is  awaking 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  199 

from  its  sleep  of  more  than  twenty  centuries,  and 
every-where  the  youth  may  be  seen  tln-onging  toward 
the  school-room.  We  had  boldly  entered  the  coun- 
try, and  challenged  Mohammedanism  and  Hinduism 
to  combat,  and  now  we  had  no  alternative  short  of 
retreat  left  us,  save  that  of  manfully  trying  to  meet 
the  momentous  responsibilities  which  the  intellectual 
awakening  had  imposed  upon  us.  It  is  idle  to  talk 
of  confining  our  w^ork  to  preaching  alone.  As  well 
try  to  persuade  the  Church  at  home  to  abolish  her 
colleges  and  seminaries.  We  had  no  choice.  To 
liave  shrunk  from  our  responsibility  would  have 
been  to  postpone  our  final  triumph  for  generations 
to  come,  and  consign  the  intellect  of  the  country  to 
a  depraved  infidelity,  compounded  of  the  supersti- 
tion of  the  Hindu,  the  bigotry  of  the  Mohammedan, 
and  the  Sadducean  heartlessness  of  the  European  ra- 
tionalist. We  saw  clearly  that  Christianity  must  at 
once  assume  her  full  responsibility  in  trying  to  guide 
this  educational  movement  so  as  to  make  it  a  blessing, 
instead  of  a  curse,  to  India,  and  hence  w^ere  obliged  to 
adapt  our  plans  to  the  emergency,  giving  our  schools 
a  higher  grade  and  a  wider  field  in  which  to  operate 
than  is  usual  in  missions  in  other  countries.  ...  A 
great  many  colleges  have  sprung  up  throughout  the 
country  in  affiliation  with  the  Calcutta  University ;  an 
institution  chartered  by  the  government  with  full 
university  powers ;  and  our  more  advanced  students 
began  to  leave  us  in  order  to  secure  the  superior  ad- 


200  Feom  Boston  to  Bareit.ly. 

vantages  wliicli  these  institutions  were  able  to  offer. 
It  was  seen  by  all  that  a  college  was  a  necessity.  A 
central  institution,  more  or  less  directly  connected 
with  all  our  schools,  seemed  necessary  to  keep  our 
students  from  leaving  us,  and  save  the  prestige  of 
our  mission. 

"  More  than  half  of  the  endowment  is  yet  to  be 
secured.  That  the  Church  at  home  should  allow  an 
opportunity  like  this  to  pass  unnoticed  is  not  to  be 
thought  of  for  a  moment.  Surely  there  are  those 
who  will  gladly  aid  in  building  up  a  Methodist 
colleo:e  in  heathen  India.  We  do  not  hesitate  to  ex- 
press  our  full  confidence  in  the  final  success  of  the 
enterpi'ise.  We  believe,  that  in  a  country  where  the 
utmost  care  is  taken  to  divorce  education  and  religion, 
God  will  not  fail  to  honor  and  bless  the  college  that 
whites  Christian  over  its  portals. 

"  Of  the  $50,000  desired  for  endowment,  it  is  hoped 
that  some  patron  or  patroness  of  the  school  may  be 
found  who  will  give  half  the  amount. 

"  The  sum  of  $5,000  would  found  a  professorship. 

"  Five  hundred  dollars  a  scholarship. 

"  The  interest  of  this  comparatively  small  sum,  by 
the  strictest  economy,  would  support  a  student,  pay 
for  his  clothes,  food,  and  books,  and  when  the  holder 
of  the  scholarship  graduates  another  would  take  his 
place.  Thus  the  work  would  continue  year  by  year, 
a  constant  source  of  help  and  blessing.  Forty  schol- 
arships are  needed. 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  201 

"  This  endowment  should  be  all  the  sooner  secured 
when  it  is  remembered  that  the  government  of  India 
stands  ready  to  duplicate  every  dollar  of  the  school's 
income.  The  government  is  now  giving  the  school 
a  monthly  grant,  which  will  be  increased  as  rapidly 
as  the  endowment  is  increased.  Every  donation  in 
America  means  a  like  donation  in  India.  This  fact 
alone  should  stimulate  to  promptest  action  those  who 
believe  in  the  salvation  of  India,  and  wish  to  help 
in  bringing  this  about.  Seldom  has  there  been  a 
grander  opportunity  than  this  for  making  an  invest- 
ment that  shall  yield  large  dividends  in  the  estab- 
lishing, upbuilding,  and  beautifying  the  native  Church 
of  India." 

We  have  thirteen  Sunday-schools  in  the  city  of 
Lucknow,  containing  fourteen  hundred  scholars.  I 
visited  as  many  of  them  as  my  time  allowed,  and  on 
inquiring  where  they  found  teachers  for  so  many 
classes,  was  delighted  to  be  informed  that  one  half 
of  the  requisite  number  were  furnished  from  the 
elder  students  of  this  college.  Two  or  three  years 
of  this  experience  serves  as  an  excellent  preparation 
for  religious  service  when  they  graduate. 

They  also  accompany  the  missionaries  to  street 
preaching  and  heathen  fairs,  and  help  in  the  work 
there,  singing  and  speaking  to  the  people.  Some  of 
them  are  good  singers,  and  their  help  is  very  valu- 
able. 

Tlie  elements  in  motion  for  intellectual  supremacy 


202  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

in  India  are  clearly  intimating  the  position  wliich 
Christianity  is  yet  to  hold  over  the  minds  of  these 
millions.  Even  now,  while  this  religion  is  perse- 
cuted, and  its  adherents  are  poor,  its  young  men, 
triumphing  over  all  its  difficulties,  are  rising  more 
rapidly  already  than  are  the  youth  of  any  other 
creed.  As  an  illustration,  take  one  fact,  lately  no- 
ticed by  Dr.  Thobum,  in  the  India  Witness.  He 
says : 

"  We  have  repeatedly  called  attention  to  the  rapid 
change  which  is  taking  place  in  the  position  of  the 
native  Christians  of  India.  They  are  still  but  a 
handful,  as  compared  with  the  great  masses  of  the 
Hindus  and  Mohammedans,  but  their  advance  in 
education  is,  relatively,  far  beyond  all  other  compet- 
itors. The  last  number  of  the  Harvest  Field  con- 
tains a  very  striking  statement  of  the  relative  num- 
bers of  Brahmins,  non-Brahmin  Hindus,  Moham- 
medans, and  Christians,  who  passed  the  various  exam- 
inations of  the  Madras  University.  At  the  entrance 
examination  the  four  classes  stood  respectively  as  fol- 
lows :  2,702, 1,303,  106,  and  332.  The  percentage  of 
passes  among  the  Christians  was  45.4,  and  among  the 
Brahmins  only  35.04,  while  the  other  two  classes 
were  still  lower.  In  the  first  arts  examination  the 
Christian  average  was  59.6,  the  Brahmins  34.02,  and 
other  Hindus  32.1.  In  the  B.A.  examination  the 
Christians  held  their  advanced  position,  while  the 
Brahmins    gained  largely.      Taken  as  a   whole,  the 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  203 

figures  clearly  show  that  the  native  Christians  will, 
in  the  course  of  two  or  three  generations,  take  the 
intellectual  lead  in  India.  Some  of  those  who  now 
despise  them  would  do  well  to  study  the  past  history 
of  Christian  progress  in  all  nations." 

Our  next  visit  was  to  the  Mission  Press.  The  ne- 
cessity and  importance  of  this  agency  of  evangeliza- 
tion was  manifest  to  me  from  the  beginning  of  our 
mission. 

I  find  in  my  report  to  the  Missionary  Board,  dated 
March  10,  1857,  that  even  thus  early  I  introduced 
this  subject  to  their  attention,  and  added  my  earnest 
hope  in  regard  to  it  in  these  words  :  "  I  trust  to  live 
to  see  some  of  our  blessed  literature  sanctifying  this 
language,  and  carrying  to  the  judgment  and  con- 
sciences of  thousands  that  we  cannot  reach  directly 
the  pure,  experimental  Gospel  of  Christ." 

As  soon  as  my  brethren  readied  me,  and  had  time 
to  gain  the  language  and  study  the  requirements  of 
the  situation,  they,  too,  saw  its  imperative  necessity, 
not  only  for  the  millions  around  us,  but  also  for  our 
converts,  our  schools,  and  our  rising  ministry. 

Accordingly,  when,  in  1861,  I  had  obtained  encour- 
agement and  help  from  the  Tract  Society  of  our 
Church,  T  made  a  proposition  to  the  members  of  the 
mission  for  a  contribution  among  ourselves,  so  that  a 
commencement  might  be  made.  I  had  their  earnest 
sympathy  in  the  matter.  In  gifts  or  loans  about 
$800  was  raised.     I  appointed  Brother  Waugh,  being 


204  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

a  practical  printer,  to  the  charge,  and  our  mission 
press  begun  its  useful  career.  A  career  that  is  des- 
tined never  to  cease  its  beneficent  action  until  Meth- 
odism has  finished  its  work  in  India. 

It  is  pleasant  now  to  remember  that  the  first  pro- 
duction which  issued  from  our  press,  in  the  language 
of  these  millions,  was  a  tract  on  the  Wit7iess  of  the 
Holy  Spirit^  written  by  Brother  Parsons,  a  copy  of 
which  I  sent  to  Dr.  Durbin  July  9.  This  was  soon 
followed  by  translations  of  Mr.  Wesley's  sermons  on 
The  New  Birth  and  Salvation  hy  Faith^  Catechisms, 
Hymn  Books,  two  Sunday-school  books,  and  some 
tracts.  At  the  close  of  1864,  when  the  missions  were 
organized  into  an  Annual  Conference,  the  entire  value 
of  the  establishment  had  grown  to  be  a  little  over 
$3,000. 

From  this  humble  beginning  has  developed  this 
invaluable  mission  press  in  Lucknow,  witli  its  cata- 
logue of  works  in  three  languages  —  Hindustanee, 
Ilindee  and  English,  and  from  which  our  mission  is 
supplied  with  its  present  requirements,  from  a  tract 
to  a  biblical  dictionary,  or  from  a  catechism  to  a 
concordance. 

Here  are  found  periodicals,  atlases,  hymnals,  biog- 
raphies, school  books,  course  of  study,  histories.  Dis- 
cipline, commentaries,  grammars,  conversion  and  life 
of  some  of  our  native  preachers,  etc.,  so  that  their 
little  catalogue  looks  quite  imposing  already. 

But  as  these  brethren  have  come  to  comprehend 


From  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  205 

the  necessity  and  power  of  the  press,  not  only  for  the 
wants  of  the  thousands  of  their  converts  and  scholars, 
but  more  especially  for  the  future  of  their  work 
among  the  millions  around  them,  they  realize  how 
utterly  inadequate  are  the  present  appliances  of  their 
press  for  the  work  it  must  do,  if  they  are  to  win  the 
success  for  which  they  pray. 

Heathenism  and  Mohammedanism  are  at  last  thor- 
oughly aroused,  and  are  even  endowing  printing- 
presses  to  arrest  the  onward  march  of  Christianity. 

"We  have  silenced  many  of  their  batteries  by  bazaar 
preaching,  but  they  are  now  transferring  the  battle 
to  the  printed  page,  and  are  flooding  the  land  with 
misrepresentations  of  the  Christian  religion  and  its 
divine  Author.  We  must  meet  them  here,  also,  in 
the  defense  of  our  work,  and  for  the  final  overthrow 
of  their  false  and  wicked  systems.  That  contest  will 
be  fierce,  and  will  rage  for  long  years  to  come  ;  but, 
as  sure  as  God  lives,  it  will  end  in  victory  for  the 
truth,  if  these  devoted  and  cultured  brethren  are  only 
sustained  with  those  "  sinews  of  war  "  which  the  su- 
preme occasion  will  demand.  Happy  and  grateful 
forever  will  be  the  liberal  souls  that  will  come  to 
their  aid  soon,  to  furnish  the  means  by  wliich  this 
contest  will  be  turned  to  victory  for  Jesus,  over  all 
the  falsehood  and  sophistry  of  systems  which  have 
stood  for  ages  to  pollute  and  crush  the  souls  which 
he  died  to  enlighten  and  save. 

Fifty  thousand  dollars  would  confer  upon  this  mis- 


206  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

sion  press  a  power  for  God  and  liis  trutli  the  effect  of 
which  no  arithmetic  could  calculate,  in  this  final  con- 
test, which  is  to  lay  low  in  the  dust  the  enemies  of 
the  Son  of  God,  and  place  rescued  and  redeemed 
India  at  his  feet  as  her  Master  and  Lord.  Every 
dollar  of  that  amount  contributed  to  help  them  will, 
in  its  measure,  accelerate  that  hour  which  the  celestial 
choirs  are  waiting  to  celebrate  over  this  prostrate 
and  defeated  heathenism,  that  "  the  kingdoms  of 
this  world  are  become  the  kingdoms  of  our  Lord 
and  of  his  Christ;  and  he  shall  reign  for  ever  and 
ever." 

How  grateful  I  shall  be  if  any  thing  I  may  say 
here,  or  elsewhere,  shall  be  used  by  God  to  di-aw  the 
attention  of  those  who  have  the  heart  and  the  means 
to  help  this  precious  mission  press  in  the  immense 
and  hopeful  work  for  Christianity  which  now  lies 
before  it ! 

I  saw  in  Lucknow  a  sight  that  is  not  often  given 
to  men  to  witness  in  this  world,  and  which  I 
have  never  forgotten  since.  Being  here  on  the 
ground,  its  significance  has  come  back  to  me  with 
peculiar  force,  as  I  move  amid  so  many  of  its  results. 
It  was  when  our  siege  was  raised  at  IS^ynee  Tal  by 
the  coming  up  of  Havelock's  invalids  under  convoy. 
This  opened  our  roads,  and  I  returned  to  Oude,  and 
entered  Lucknow  for  the  second  time.  Sir  Eobert 
Montgomery  was  then  the  head  of  the  government, 
in  succession  to  Sir  Henry  Lawrence.    He  believed  in 


Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  207 

missions,  and  received  me  most  cordially,  promising 
to  aid  us  in  every  way  that  he  could.  I  was  on  this 
occasion  also  a  guest  at  the  government  house,  and 
the  morning  after  my  arrival  went  out  to  see  the  re- 
captured city — so  much  changed  for  the  better — and 
the  Residency,  now  so  famous  for  the  siege  which  it 
had  endured  during  the  fifteen  months  that  had 
intervened. 

On  returning  in  the  afternoon,  Sir  Kobert  took  me 
into  the  inclosure  behind  his  house  to  show  me  the 
result  of  the  disarmament  which  he  had  completed. 
The  forts  of  those  talookdars  of  Oude  had  to  be 
dismantled;  the  cannon  were  surrendered  to  him, 
and  he  proceeded  to  disarm  the  population  of  the 
tarbulent  city,  all  pai-ties  being  given  to  understand 
that  the  day  of  brute  force  was  over,  and  that  of  law 
and  peace  had  begun. 

What  to  do  with  the  vast  store  of  "  weapons  of 
war,"  of  all  sorts  and  shapes,  was  the  question  now  to 
be  decided. 

After  consideration,  he  concluded  to  do  a  very 
wise  and  safe  thing  with  them,  namely,  to  transform 
them  into  agricultural  implements. 

So,  when  he  brought  me  into  the  inclosure  to  see 
what  he  was  doing,  there  were  the  weapons  in  great 
heaps  all  over  the  place,  and  among  them  were 
several  moveable  forges,  with  the  blacksmiths  hard 
at  work,  effecting  this  wonderful  transformation.  It 
would  not  be  easy  to  match,  anywhere,  such  a  curious 


208  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

variety  of  offensive  weapons  as  were  here  displayed 
in  profusion  before  us. 

Their  terrible  work  of  cruelty  was  ended,  however, 
and  it  looked  like  the  morning  of  the  millennium  to 
see  them  rapidly  changing  their  shape  and  purpose, 
as  the  smiths  fulfilled  the  wondrous  prophecy,  and 
that,  too,  in  such  a  place  as  Lucknow.  Perhaps  in  the 
history  of  our  race  there  has  never  been  a  more  literal 
and  extensive  fulfillment  of  Jehovah's  prediction  : 
"He  shall  judge  among  many  people,  and  rebuke 
strong  nations  afar  off;  and  they  shall  beat  their 
swords  into  plowshares,  and  their  spears  into  pruning 
hooks :  nation  shall  not  lift  up  a  sword  against  nation, 
neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more.  But  they  shall 
sit  every  man  mider  his  vine  and  under  his  fig  tree ; 
and  none  sliall  make  them  afraid  :  for  the  mouth  of 
the  Lord  of  hosts  hath  spoken  it."     Micah  iv,  3,  4. 

The  good  chief  commissioner  said  to  me,  "  Would 
you  not  wish  to  secure  some  souvenir  of  the  Sepoy 
rebellion  before  they  are  all  used  up  ? "  I  replied 
that  I  would,  indeed,  be  glad  to  do  so.  He  told  me 
to  help  myself ;  which  I  did,  taking  out  two  Sepoy 
swords,  a  Kookrie  (a  Ghoorka  weapon,  used  for  rip- 
ping up  or  disemboweling)  and  a  Talwar  (for  behead- 
ing)— the  latter  especially  repulsive,  being  so  hooked 
and  loaded  at  the  extremity,  that,  in  the  expert  hands 
of  those  trained  to  its  use,  the  person  to  suffer  had 
only  to  be  bent  forward  a  little,  and  a  blow  over  the 
pivotal   joint  of  the  neck,  with  the  rapid  pull  that 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  209 

followed,  would  sweep  the  liead  from  the  shoulders, 
and  lay  it  at  the  feet  of  the  wretched  victim ! 

The  blood-stains  on  all  of  them  bore  testimony  to 
their  having  been  used  for  their  respective  purposes. 
1  have  them  still,  and  never  look  at  them  but  I  think 
of  God's  reference  to  such,  when  he  says,  "  Instru- 
ments of  cruelty  are  in  their  habitations  ; "  and  also  to 
thank  him  that  his  holy  and  powerful  providence  has 
wrenched  them  out  of  the  murderous  hands  that 
wielded  them,  so  often  unjustly  and  in  vengeance; 
and  has,  instead,  introduced  tlie  restraints  of  law,  and 
the  more  humane  penalties  which  proved  crime  re- 
ceives at  the  hands  of  the  Christian  civilization  that 
now  holds  sway  in  Oude  and  in  all  India. 

We  went  out  to  the  Alumbagh,  five  miles  from 
the  city,  to  visit  the  grave  of  General  Havelock. 
This  resting-place  of  "  the  gallant  chief  of  gallant 
men  "  seemed  holy  ground  to  us  as  we  again  stood 
around  it. 

He  knows  now,  no  doubt,  what  an  aggregate  of 
good  has  resulted  to  India  herself,  and  to  Christian- 
ity, from  the  weary  marches,  the  endurance,  and 
victories  of  himself  and  the  heroes  w^liom  he  led  to 
tlie  relief  of  Lucknow. 

I  tried,  in  The  Land  of  the  Veda,  to  tell  the  won- 
derful story  of  tliat  siege  and  relief,  and  so  need 
make  only  this  passing  reference  to  it  here.  England 
has  commemorated  these  events  in  a  great  historical 

picture.     The  picture  and  the  ruin  still  remain,  while 
14 


210  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

almost  every  one  of  the  actors  in  that  scene  have 
passed  away.  Such  are  the  changes  of  twenty-seven 
years ! 

History  tells  of  heroes  in  many  lands,  but  the 
union  of  the  hero  and  the  saint,  in  the  same  indi- 
vidual, is  not  often  realized.  Here,  however,  sleeps 
one  such,  whose  memory  all  Christendom  loves  to 
honor ;  and  who  to-day  comprehends,  by  glorious 
experience,  the  higher  significance  of  being  in  the 
spiritual  w^arfare,  and  forever  "  more  than  conqueror 
through  Him  that  loved  "  him. 

From  this  we  went  to  the  ruins  of  the  Residency. 
I  had  seen  them  as  they  were  a  short  time  after 
their  relief,  in  all  their  torn  and  terrible  desolation, 
when  we  had  to  walk  cautiously  around  them,  where 
mines  and  counter- mines  had  been  rim,  and  tlie 
lieavy  footfall  so  often  sounded  hollow  to  the  tread. 
But,  now,  all  is  delightfully  changed.  The  whole 
place  has  been  turned  into  a  beautiful  little  park, 
where  ample  means  and  good  taste  have  done  their 
best  to  embellish  this  ever-memorable  locality. 

After  due  consideration,  the  government  concluded 
that  they  would  not  demolish  the  battered  walls;  they 
would  let  them  continue  just  as  they  were,  that  they 
might  remain  a  memorial  to  the  coming  ages  of  the 
valor  of  the  Christian  few  against  the  heathen  many. 
So  the  fissures  were  closed  up,  and  the  walls  covered 
on  the  top  with  cement,  that  will  keep  them  perma- 
nently from  disintegration  by  the  weather.      There 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  211 

they  stand,  tliose  ivy-clad  ruins,  preserved  as  a  ceno- 
taph, to  commemorate  a  Christian  endurance  and  valor 
which  have,  perhaps,  no  parallel  in  tlie  annals  of  his- 
tory. 'None  enter  these  hallowed  walls  without 
solemnity ;  even  royalty  itself — as  in  the  case  of  the 
visit  of  the  Prince  of  Wales — stands,  with  uncovered 
head  and  tear-dimmed  eyes,  in  the  presence  of  that 
memorial  of  "  The  Besieged  of  Lucknow." 

How  appropriately  and  grandly  was  this  heartfelt 
homage  illustrated  in  the  visit  here  of  the  great  vice- 
roy. Lord  Lawrence,  whose  brother  Henry  it  was 
that  conducted  the  memorable  defense,  until  he  was 
killed  by  the  bursting  shell  which  went  through  the 
window  on  the  right  hand  side  into  the  room  w^liere 
he  stood. 

After  his  heroic  defense  of  the  Punjab,  and  the 
taking  of  Delhi,  Sir  John  Lawrence  returned  for  rest 
to  England.  Her  majesty  soon  raised  him  to  the 
peerage,  and  then  sent  him  back  as  her  viceroy  of  all 
India,  in  order  to  give  solidity  to  the  new  and  better 
state  of  things  which  the  valor  of  himself  and  his 
associates  had  won. 

One  of  the  measures  which  he  adopted  was  the 
holding  of  several  grand  dtirbars  (state  receptions) 
with  the  princes  and  chiefs  of  India,  in  order  to 
promote  a  good  understanding  with  them  in  regard 
to  those  measures  (education  included)  of  peace 
and  improvement  by  which  the  Indian  empire 
might  rise   into  a  higher   and   better  life  than   it 


212  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

had  hitherto  known.  The  nobles  responded  to  the 
government,  and  some  of  the  most  magnificent  as- 
semblies that  the  East  has  ever  witnessed  occurred 
at  that  time. 

The  durbar  at  Lucknow  ranked  among  the  highest. 
This  city  had  never  beheld  such  a  splendid  pageant 
as  that  which  then  took  place.  The  wonderful  scene 
is  fully  depicted  in  the  second  volume  of  the  vice- 
roy's life,  by  Dr.  S.  Smith,  published  three  years 
since.  Before  leaving  England,  Lord  Lawrence  had 
to  visit  Oxford,  to  be  invested  with  the  dignity  of 
an  LL.D.  by  that  venerable  University. 

It  happened  that  the  theme  of  the  Prize  Poem 
tliat  year,  by  H.  Aglen,  was  ''  Lucknow."  Of  course 
the  special  reference  was  to  the  heroic  services  and 
death  of  Henry,  the  elder  brother  of  Lord  Law- 
rence, whose  humble  grave  lies  within  the  Residency 
walls. 

The  viceroy  had  not  been  in  Lucknow  since  his 
brother's  death ;  he  had  not  yet  looked  on  those  bat- 
tered walls,  nor  the  scene  of  that  famous  defense. 

Lord  Lawrence's  reception  at  the  University  was 
of  the  most  enthusitistic  kind.  As  he  entered,  tlie 
vast  audience  rose  to  receive  him,  and  the  applause 
was  again  and  again  renewed.  He  took  his  seat  on 
the  dais,  and  before  his  investiture,  the  poet  of  the 
occasion  stood  forth  to  read  his  production. 

When  he  came  to  the  lines  referring  to  Henry 
Lawrence's   death,  there  were  few  dry  eyes  in  the 


From  Boston  to  Baretlly.  213 

assembly,  and  the  viceroy's  heart  was  deeply  moved 
as  the  words  rolled  over  the  audience : 

"  Whose  lion-courage  and  whose  wisdom  tried, 

To  failing  hearts  his  own  stout  hope  supplied. 

0,  greedy  death  !   0,  cruel  bursting  shell ! 

There  fell  their  tower  of  strength  when  Lawrence  fell ! " 

The  viceroy  was  ere  long  to  feel  it  all,  in  even  a 
higher  degree,  when  he  should  stand  on  the  spot 
itself,  and  by  Henry's  grave,  to  realize  what  price,  in 
blood  and  suffering,  had  to  be  paid  in  order  that,  in 
this  sense  also,  *'  old  things  "  should  "  pass  away,  and 
all  things  become  new"  for  long-benighted  Hindustan. 

After  his  arrival  in  India  the  arrangements  were 
made  for  assembling  these  durbars.  The  one  for 
Lucknow  was  held  in  1867. 

As  the  governor-general's  cavalcade  approached 
the  city,  it  was  met  by  the  assembled  talookdars  in 
all  the  splendor  that  tlieir  wealth  could  provide. 

The  chief  external  feature  of  the  occasion  was  a 
magnificent  procession  of  first-class  elephants,  seven 
hundred  in  number,  splendidly  caparisoned,  on  which 
the  talookdars  were  mounted.  They  were  in  line  on 
both  sides  of  the  road,  and  were  waiting  for  the  vice- 
roy's approach. 

But  his  heart  had,  as  it  were,  gone  ahead  to  the 
inclosure,  where  that  noble  band,  under  command  of 
his  gallant  brother,  had  maintained,  against  such  fear- 
ful odds,  that  ever  memorable  defense  in  1857.  He 
decided,  therefore,  not  to  pause,  or  perform  any  act 


214  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

of  state  or  courtesy  until  after  he  had  first  visited 
that  sacred  spot.  The  mahout  was  directed  to  guide 
his  elephant  straight  on  to  the  Residency,  between  that 
waiting  line  of  nobles,  without  stopping.  After  he 
passed  they  wheeled  in  behind  him,  and  the  entire 
cavalcade  followed  where  many  of  them  would  have 
least  desired  to  go. 

As  soon  as  the  inclosure  was  reached  the  proces- 
sion halted,  and  Lord  Lawrence  descended  from  his 
elephant.  His  brilliant  staff  remained  where  they 
were,  and  he  advanced  alone,  till  he  stood  right  in 
front  of  the  Residency,  and  before  that  window 
through  which  that 

"  Cruel  bursting  shell " 

had  passed.  Away  on  his  left  hand  was  the  grave 
which  contained  the  remains  of  Henry. 

There  he  stood  alone,  in  simple  black  dress,  with- 
out an  order  or  ornament  on  his  person,  his  hands 
crossed  in  front  of  him,  lost  in  thought  and  sympa- 
thy, while  around  him  were  those  hundreds  of  ta- 
lookdars  in  all  "  their  bravery  of  purple  and  gold," 
and  mounted  so  splendidly,  with  tens  of  thousands 
of  people  looking  on.  ^ 

In  front  of  all  were  the  roofless  walls  of  that  ter- 
ribly battered  Residency,  presenting  the  dents  and 
chasms  made  by  millions  of  rifle  bullets  and  thou- 
sands of  cannon-balls.  He  knew  that  among  the  no- 
bles and  crowd  around  were  some  of  the  parties  who 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  215 

had  done  these  deeds  and  killed  that  brother.  Still 
there  he  stood,  separate  and  alone,  gazing  in  sympa- 
thy upon  the  ruins  before  them,  and  realizing  all  that 
it  meant,  as  he  alone  could. 

Christianity  has  had  glorious  triumphs  to  reflect 
upon.  Few  of  them  have  been  equal,  in  calm  maj- 
esty and  significance,  to  the  wonderful  scene  where 
that  Christian  viceroy  stood,  in  quiet  dignity  and  im- 
perial power,  with  that  immense  semicircle  of  heathen 
and  Moslem  spectators  gazing  upon  him  with  aston- 
ishment, and  realizing,  as  they  could  not  before,  how 
impotent  was  "  heathen  rage,"  and  how  invincible 
was  Christian  civilization ! 

The  Majesty  on  high,  who  looked  down  upon  that 
scene,  saw  there  an  illustration  of  his  "  decree"  in  the 
second  Psalm,  as  true  and  delightful  as  any  he  has 
yet  witnessed  in  the  eastern  hemisphere.  Lord  Law- 
rence, a  devout  believer  in  the  Son  of  God,  a  re- 
specter of  his  holy  Sabbath,  and  maintaining,  as  he 
did,  a  family  altar  to  the  Divine  glory  in  his  viceregal 
palace,  was  worthy  of  the  honor  which  God  declares 
he  will  put  upon  those  who  honor  him.  Could  the 
scene  have  been  photographed,  one  of  the  grandest 
pictures  in  history  might  have  originated  here. 

The  viceroy  then  remounted  his  elephant  and  took 
his  position  as  arranged.  The  whole  of  that  proces- 
sion went  in  review  before  him,  each  noble  rising  in 
his  howdah,  as  his  elephant  passed  the  viceroy,  and 
humbly  saluting  him  as  her  majesty's  representative. 


216  FiioM  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

When  the  sights  and  sahites  of  that  gorgeous  pageant 
of  submission  and  loyalty  were  over,  the  veteran  vice- 
roy again  dismounted  and  walked  to  the  sacred  spot 
where  was  the  grave  of  his  lion-hearted  brother,  and 
there,  alone  again,  he  stood  for  some  time  wrapped 
in  thoughts  which  were,  no  doubt,  worthy  of  the 
occasion,  and  must  have  included  the  reflection,  l^w 
his  own  final  and  bloodless  triumph  that  day  had 
consummated  the  victory  which  Henry  had  died  to 
win. 

Although  it  is  no  part  of  my  narrative,  I  cannot 
refrain  here  from  quoting  the  words  of  this  great 
governor-general  seven  years  after,  on  liis  return  to 
England,  in  regard  to  the  character  and  value  of 
Christian  missions  in  India.  'No  man  that  England 
ever  sent  to  rule  tlie  East  had  a  better  opportunity 
to  form  and  express  an  opinion  npon  this  subject,* 
and  his  words  may  well  put  to  shame  the  contempti- 
ble remarks  sometimes  made  by  prejudiced  and  su- 
perficial travelers  and  others,  who,  on  their  return 
home,  presuming  on  the  credulity  of  the  public, 
have  volunteered  to  enlighten  them  about  Christian 
missions. 

The  argument  with  such  people  is  short.  The  tes- 
timony of  men  like  Lord  Lawrence  (for  many  others 
have  spoken)  flatly  contradicts  these  irresponsible 
scribblers.  If  he,  who  knew  so  well  wliat  he  said, 
has  spoken  the  truth,  and  nothing  but  the  truth  (and 
he  would  have  affirmed  it  under  oath  at  the  bar  of 


From  Boston  to  Bakeillt.  21^ 

public  opinion  if  necessary),  then  these  people  are 
justly  chargeable  with  either  prejudice  or  ignorance, 
if  not  with  both. 

On  reaching  England,  in  18T4,  Lord  Lawrence  was 
waited  upon  by  a  deputation  of  the  committee  of  tlie 
Wesleyan  Methodist  Missionary  Society,  requesting 
him  to  favor  them  with  his  views  on  missions  in 
India,  at  the  anniversary,  in  Exeter  Hall,  London. 
He  willingly  consented,  and  the  following  are  the 
words  he  uttered  on  that  occasion : 

"I  believe,  notwithstanding  all  that  the  English 
people  have  done  to  benefit  India,  that  the  mission- 
aries have  done  more  than  all  other  agencies  com- 
bined. They  have  had  arduous  and  up-hill  work, 
often  receiving  no  encouragement,  and  sometimes  a 
great  deal  of  discouragement  from  their  own  coun- 
trymen, and  have  had  to  bear  the  taunts  and  obloquy 
of  those  who  despised  and  disliked  their  preaching ; 
but  such  has  been  the  eifect  of  their  earnest  zeal,  un- 
tiring devotion,  and  of  the  excellent  example  which 
they  have,  I  may  say,  universally,  shown  to  the  people, 
I  have  no  doubt  whatever  that,  in  spite  of  the  great 
majority  of  the  people  being  intensely  opposed  to 
their  doctrine,  they  are,  as  a  body,  remarkably  pop- 
ular in  the  country.  It  seems  to  me  that,  year  by 
year,  and  cycle  by  cycle,  tlie  influence  of  tlie  mis- 
sionaries must  increase,  and  that,  in  God's  good  will, 
the  time  may  be  expected  to  come  when  large  masses 
of  the  people,  having  lost  all  faith  in  their  own  relig- 


218  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

ion,  and  feeling  the  want  of  one  which  is  true  and 
pure  and  holy,  will  be  converted  and  profess  the 
Christian  faith,  and  having  professed  it,  live  in  ac- 
cordance with  its  precepts. 

"I  have  a  great  reverence  and  regard  for  them 
(the  missionaries),  both  personally  and  for  the  sake  of 
the  great  cause  in  which  they  are  engaged  ;  and  I 
feel  it  to  be  a  pleasure  and  a  privilege  to  do  any 
thing  I  can,  in  the  last  years  of  my  life,  to  further 
the  great  work  for  which  they  have  done  so  much."  ^ 

Our  mission  in  Lucknow,  dating  from  September, 
1858,  on  securing  property  in  tlie  Hossainabad  dis- 
trict of  the  city,  inclosed  a  little  portion  as  a  mission 
cemetery. 

One  of  our  first  visits,  on  our  return,  was  to  this 
spot,  so  sacred  to  us,  for  the  earliest  grave  dug  there 
was  for  ourselves.  A  lovely  babe  had,  for  four 
months,  diffused  a  beautiful  light  in  our  home,  and 
was  gaining  a  great  hold  upon  our  poor  hearts.  I  left 
in  the  middle  of  March,  1859,  to  go  round  my  district 
and  be  absent  about  two  weeks.  In  those  days  no 
telegraph  connected  the  various  points  of  our  great 
field,  and  post-office  arrangements  were  slow  and  im- 
perfect. So  I  would  sometimes  be  many  days  without 
hearing  from  my  famil}'.  It  thus  happened  on  this 
occasion.  When  my  work  was  done  I  left  the  western 
end  of  the  mission  and  started  for  home,  three  days' 
journey  to  the  east,  anticipating  the  joy  of  meeting 

*  Life,  by  Smith,  vol.  ii,  p.  528. 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  219 

ny  dear  ones  again,  and  especially  the  little  darling, 
whose  arms  were  always  stretched  out  with  such  joy 
to  greet  papa. 

It  Avas  evening  when  I  arrived,  and  after  saluting 
my  wife,  who  seemed  unusually  reserved  in  her  man- 
ner, I  turned,  as  was  my  habit,  to  enter  the  bedroom 
and  look  into  the  cradle. 

The  fact  could  no  longer  be  concealed.  My  wife, 
not  able  further  to  control  herself,  sprung  to  her  feet 
and  grasped  my  arm  to  stop  me.  The  cradle  was 
empty!  The  beautiful  babe  had  been  in  the  little 
cemetery  for  more  than  two  days !  The  mother  had 
to  go  through  that  bitter  pang  alone,  and  have  the 
grave  dug,  and  lay  our  darling  down  there  in  my 
absence !  Death  in  India  is  often  very  prompt,  and 
the  grave  has  to  be  quickly  prepared. 

How  often  since  have  our  hearts  turned  to  that 
little  cemetery.  This  was  to  be  our  last  chance  of 
entering  it.  We  found  all  in  order.  Some  kind 
hand  had  placed  a  flower  there.  In  companionship 
wath  our  babe  sleeps  one  of  the  little  orphans.  The 
two  side  by  side.  The  one  born  in  a  heathen  home, 
the  other  a  child  dedicated  from  its  birth  to  the  Holy 
Trinity;  but  the  precious  blood  of  the  divine  Ee- 
deemer  is  as  available  for  the  one  as  for  the  other, 
and  both  will  lise  together  in  the  resurrection  at  the 
last  day.  The  next  grave  is  that  of  Rev.  Joseph  R. 
Downey,  who  died  September  16th,  in  the  same  year 
(thirty  days  after  his  arrival  in  India),  the  first  death 


220  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

among  our  missionaries.  Then  there  are  tlie  graves 
of  three  more  little  ones,  children  of  our  missionaries, 
and  of  Sister  Pierce,  and  Brother  Fieldbrave  (one  of 
our  native  ministers),  who  was  a  great  help  to  me 
when  commencing  the  mission  at  Bareilly,  and  of 
whom  I  shall  have  more  to  say  after  we  reach  that 
station. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  221 


CHAPTER  YL 

"  Around  his  sign, 
His  call'd,  his  chosen,  faithful  friends,  combine ; 
In  might  invincible  they  nobly  wield 
The  sword  of  temper  and  the  sevenfold  shield ; 
Fixed  in  the  firm  resolve  to  sleep  no  more 
While  heirs  dread  hosts  their  banded  legions  pour ; 
While  blood-stained  idols  haunt  the  withering  earth, 
While  superstition  rears  her  demon  birth, 
While  Antichrist  his  hydra  form  extends. 
Or  man,  debased,  to  groveling  folly  bends ; 
While  unsubdued  Messiah's  latest  foe. 
Or  earth  its  curse  by  sin  and  suffering  know." 

— MessiaJi's  Kingdom. 

Instead  of  going  on  direct  to  Bareillj  from  this 
place,  we  will  here  make  a  detour,  and  visit  the 
imperial  city  of  Delhi.  From  that  point  we  shall 
best  come,  in  the  order  of  time,  in  contact  with 
events  that  have  their  outcome  at  Bareilly,  and  which, 
in  their  results,  have  affected  the  progress  of  our 
missions,  and  tended  so  largely  to  give  them  that 
development  which  calls  to-day  for  so  much  gratitude 
to  God. 

When  we  entered  India,  this  city  of  the  Great 
Moguls  (as  the  Dellii  emperors  were  so  long  called) 
retained  much  of  its  splendor.  Its  Chandnee  Chowk 
(Street  of  Silver)  was  one  of  the  richest  bazaars  in  the 
East,  and  here  the  Mohammedan  princes  and  aris- 


222  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

tocracy  displayed  their  magnificence  and  spent  their 
wealth. 

Ten  weeks  after  the  city  was  captured  by  the  En- 
glish forces — in  the  Christmas  week  of  1857 — I  en- 
tered the  gates,  which  were  opened  to  us  at  midnight 
by  an  English  sentinel.  The  entire  native  population 
(pending  the  trials  then  taking  place)  were  required 
to  leave  the  city  every  evening  at  sunset,  to  return  at 
daylight  for  their  business.  So  that,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  great  fortified  palace  in  the  center,  where 
the  army  and  the  prisoners  were  lodged,  there  was 
no  one  in  the  entire  city  at  night. 

On  reaching  the  Travelers'  Rest  House,  impelled 
by  curiosity  and  the  extraordinary  position  in  which 
1  found  myself,  I  left  my  luggage,  and,  taking  my 
lantern,  walked  out  into  the  once  magnificent  chowk. 
How  awful  a  captured  city  is  in  these  circumstances ! 
Ruin  was  on  every  hand ;  all  doors  and  windows  were 
open,  and  yet  not  a  sign  of  life,  save  the  wretched 
dogs  and  cats  which  prowled  amid  these  ruins.  Ev- 
ery thing  was  dark  around  me.  ^o  ray  of  lighc,  save 
what  I  carried  in  my  hand. 

When  I  came  to  the  Kotwalee  (the  police  station) 
in  the  square,  the  scene  of  those  terrible  massacres  of 
the  English  ladies,  and  their  children  and  husbands, 
done  on  the  12th  and  13th  of  the  previous  May — the 
fearful  story  of  which  resounded  over  the  civilized 
world — I  stopped,  horrified  to  realize  that  I  was 
standing  on  the  scene  of  their  suffering,  on  the  very 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  223 

ground  that  drank  their  blood !  I  was  not  aware — 
for  tlie  darkness  liid  it  from  mj  view — that,  right 
over  inj  head,  was  the  immense  gallows  on  which 
those  crimes  were  being  expiated,  day  after  day,  as 
the  guilt  was  brought  home  to  its  perpetrators.  I 
stood  there  and  remembered,  as  we  noticed  at  the 
time,  that  the  Scripture  Lesson  in  the  Calendar  for 
the  day  when  the  city  was  taken  was  Xalmm  iii,  be- 
ginning, "  Woe  to  the  bloody  city,"  and  realized  how 
truly  the  vengeance  recounted  in  the  nineteen  verses 
following  had  been  fulfilled  on  guilty  Delhi.  I  felt 
my  flesh  creep  as  I  recalled  the  almost  matchless 
guilt  here  transacted,  and  the  cruelty  and  suffering 
over  the  land  that  had  followed  this  dreadful  exam- 
ple. The  man  who  was  responsible  for  it  all  (just 
captured  by  Hodson  and  his  cavalry)  was  at  that  hour, 
a  prisoner  within  the  dark  walls  before  me,  waiting, 
along  with  those  who  had  joined  him,  the  sure  and 
certain  doom  of  wretches  who  had  descended  so  low 
as  to  become  the  murderers  of  defenseless  M^omen 
and  ehildren. 

I  retraced  my  steps,  and  lay  down  to  seek  sleep  in 
the  center  of  that  city  of  silence,  darkness,  and  guilt! 
What  a  close  to  eight  hundred  years  of  Moslem  sov- 
ereignty was  this !  What  would  Shah  Jehan,  the 
magnificent  builder  of  the  Taj  Mahal  and  the  De- 
wanee-Khass,  have  thought  if,  even  in  his  wildest 
dreams,  he  had  imagined  that,  in  such  a  catastrophe 
of  guilt  and  blood,  his  imperial  house  would  sink  out 


22i  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

of  siglit  forever  amid  the  general  execration  of  man- 
kind ?  Yet  so  it  was,  and  I  was  liere  to  witness  it. 
Early  next  morning  I  rose  from  mj  uneasy  and  un- 
refreshing  sleep  to  seek  a  friend  who  would  guide  me 
around.  Passing  the  Kotwalee  again,  the  daylight 
made  visible  what  the  darkness  had  hidden  from  me. 
There  was  the  great  gallows,  and  from  it  now  were 
dangling  down,  stiff  and  dead,  several  of  those 
wretched  men  who  had  there  suffered  for  their  crimes 
at  day -dawn  that  morning !  I  shuddered  and  has- 
tened on. 

Entering  the  palace,  I  found  my  friend,  Lieut. 
Eckford  (one  half  of  whose  family  had  been  mur- 
dered by  the  Sepoys),  and  was  taken  by  him  on  an 
elephant  over  the  battle-ground  and  to  the  gate  where 
the  assault  was  given,  on  the  22d  of  September.  He 
tlien  led  me  to  see  the  prisoners.  It  was  dreadful  to 
behold  rajahs  and  nawabs  and  men  of  rank  among 
them.  But  1  need  not  add  any  thing  further,  as  tlie 
whole  subject  is  fully  described  in  The  Lomd  of  the 
Veda.  I  have  gone  thus  far  only  to  reach  the  point 
which  is  not  there  referred  to,  and  which,  when  I 
wrote  that  book,  I  could  not  understand  as  I  can  see 
it  now  in  all  its  wonderful  results  to  our  growing 
work  in  the  valley  of  the  Ganges.  The  circumstance 
referred  to  took  place  in  the  beautiful  Dewcmee-^hass, 
one  day  during  the  trials  which  I  went  then  to  wit- 
ness. The  special  indictment  on  which  the  emperor 
himself  was  convicted  was  the  murder,  within  his 


Feom  Boston  to  Babeilly.  225 

own  palace,  of  the  English  embassador,  the  Hon. 
Simon  Fraser,  with  the  chaplain  of  the  embassy,  Mr. 
Jennings,  and  the  two  ladies. 

Before  referring  further  to  the  peculiar  events  that 
I  have  conducted  my  readers  here  to  understand,  I 
need  to  bespeak  their  attention  to  a  fact  or  two  which 
shows  their  significance  and  value  to  our  mission.  As 
I  went  through  India  in  1856,  and  visited  one  mis- 
sion after  another,  I  was  painfully  impressed  by  the 
general  absence  of  the  woman  element  in  the  congre- 
gations. It  was  different  in  those  missions  which  had 
availed  themselves  of  the  opportunity  to  take  up 
orphan  girls,  in  connection  with  those  fearful  famines 
which  used  to  occur  so  frequently,  before  the  En- 
glish government  made  the  canals  and  irrigation 
works,  which  have  spread  fertility  over  the  once  dry 
and  thirsty  portions  of  the  land,  and  then  gave  the 
guarantees  under  which  railroads  were  built.  These 
great  works  enable  the  surplus  of  one  section  to  be 
quickly  transported  to  others  threatened  with  want, 
and  so  strikes  down  famine  when  it  attempts  to  lift 
its  head.  When  I  entered  India  there  was  no  such 
benevolent  efficiency  possible.  The  only  way  was  the 
old  heathen  method  of  supply  by  bullock  carts,  over 
a  country  without  made  roads,  conveying  produce  at 
the  rate  which  bullocks  could  afford  to  keep  up 
(about  twelve  miles  per  day),  so  that  there  might  be  a 
full  provision  in  one  place,  and  a  famine  only  three 

hundred  miles  off,  which  it  would  require  a  month 
15 


226  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

to  reacli  and  relieve.  All  this,  too,  in  a  crowded 
population,  the  majority  of  whom  depended  on  their 
daily  toil  for  their  daily  bread. 

Our  Presbyterian  brethren,  who  were  in  the  field 
before  us,  and  some  other  missions,  had  availed  them- 
selves of  the  opportunity  of  those  famines,  to  receive 
imder  their  care  numbers  of  the  orphans  thus  left 
destitute.  For,  in  those  terrible  emergencies,  even 
Hindu  humanity  led  the  dying  parents  to  give  most 
consideration  to  the  little  ones,  so  that,  when  the 
government  would  come  to  the  rescue,  and  send 
round  their  police  into  the  stricken  villages,  to  save 
the  living  and  bury  the  dead,  those  whom  they  found 
still  living  would  generally  be  the  children.  The 
missions  which  came  forward  at  such  times  to  accept 
tlie  care  of  some  of  these  wretched  little  ones,  for 
whom  the  government  could  make  no  permanent 
provision,  and  were  only  too  glad  to  be  relieved  of  fur- 
ther care  on  their  account,  have  been  well  repaid  for 
their  philanthropy.  Hundreds  of  healthy,  educated^ 
and  devoted  men  and  women  to-day  in  India  are  the 
result.  Our  own  Joel  is  one  of  them.  I  visited  such 
missions  in  1856,  at  Benares  and  Allahabad,  and  saw 
wdiat  I  could  not  see  in  other  missions,  which  had  not 
tlie  will  or  ability  to  do  as  these  had  done.  The 
female  side  of  the  congregations  was  tolerably  well 
filled  up.  But  in  the  others  there  would  be,  say,  from 
twenty  to  fifty  men  on  the  men's  side,  and  perhaps 
only  from  two  to  five  women  on  the  female  side  of  the 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  227 

house.  It  was  necessarily  so  in  our  own  mission  for 
the  first  couple  of  years.  As  I  went  round  my  great 
district,  and  looked  at  this  state  of  things,  I  used  to  lie 
awake  at  night  and  wonder  how  it  was  to  be  met. 
Here  were  a  number  of  young  men  who  attended 
Christian  services ;  some  of  them  had  broken  caste 
and  united  themselves  with  us,  the  others  were  unde- 
cided, in  view  not  only  of  the  persecution  to  which 
tliey  were  sure  to  be  exposed,  but  also  the  isolated 
life  which  lay  before  them — a  life  of  celibacy  as  well 
as  of  persecution.  At  that  time  we  had  but  one 
Christian  family  in  the  valley,  and  no  girls  or  girls' 
schools — no  source  from  which  these  men  could  be 
supplied  with  wives  if  they  became  Christian.  The 
heathen  were  well  pleased  with  the  difficulty,  re- 
solved they  never  should  have  wives  from  them. 
They  were  exultant,  as  they  supposed  that  they  had 
the  future  of  Christianity  in  their  power,  to  use  their 
own  figure,  like  a  piece  of  crumpled  paper,  on  which 
they  could  close  their  hand  tightly,  and  so  prevent 
their  young  men  from  breaking  caste  and  going  into 
Christianity.  It  was  a  monkish  aspect  truly,  and  no 
social  future  or  home  seemed  possible  to  them.  It 
distressed  me  exceedingly  as  I  reflected,  what  could 
our  mission  accomplish  under  such  circumstances? 
What  was  to  become  of  these  young  men,  and  of 
hundreds  more  who  would  enter  the  schools  we  were 
to  open,  and  whom  we  desired  to  win  for  Christ  ? 
Access  to  heathen  homes  was  impracticable ;  there 


228  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

was  not  one  zenana  then  open  to  us  in  the  whole 
valley.  Girls'  schools  seemed  impossible,  even  if  we 
had  the  female  teachers  to  take  charge  of  them.  Our 
first  efforts  in  this  line  at  Bareilly  were  an  utter 
failure,  and  were  met  with  contempt  and  ridicule  by 
the  people  as  a  sort  of  outrage  against  their  religion 
and  their  law  and  ancient  civilization.  Dr.  Duff — a 
prince  among  missionaries — had  gone  through  the 
same  experience  in  Calcutta,  and  had  resigned  the 
effort  in  despair,  and  wrote  these  words  (which  sound 
so  singularly  in  this  better  day)  in  the  first  edition  of 
his  book  on  India,  published  in  1830.  He  there 
says,  "You  might  as  well  try  to  scale  a  wall  five 
hundred  yards  high  as  to  attempt  female  education 
in  India." 

'No  wonder  the  heathen  exulted  in  the  admission ; 
and,  this  being  so,  had  made  themselves  quite  easy  as 
to  the  spread  of  Christianity  in  their  country.  Of 
course.  Dr.  Duff  lived  to  see  the  mighty  change, 
wrought  by  God  himself,  against  all  this  heathen 
prejudice  and  resolution.  But  I  am  writing  of  what 
we  had  to  face  in  the  early  days  of  our  miss^n. 

I  have  shown,  in  the  ninth  chapter  of  the  work 
already  referred  to,  the  terrible  legal  obstacles  to 
the  elevation  or  education  of  women  in  India  which 
Menu  interposed  in  his  "  Institutes  of  Hindu  Law," 
a  system  of  legislation  next  to  the  Mosaic  in  venera- 
ble antiquity.  This  law  was  so  sustained  by  custom 
and  literature,  that  for  long  ages  it  had  been  held  to 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  229 

be  woman's  religious  duty  to  be  content  witb  the  lot 
which  the  classics  of  her  country  pronounced  when 
they  said,  that  *'  Ignorance  is  woman's  truest  orna- 
ment," and  that  any  desire  for  a  change  was  a 
thought  which  was  forbidden  to  her  as  a  virtuous 
woman.  All  this  fearful  wrong  was  intensified  by 
the  Mohammedan  invasion,  eight  hundred  years  ago, 
when  that  creed  of  cruelty  and  lust  came  bursting 
into  India  as  a  conquering  power.  Their  theory  and 
vile  practices  (as  the  Hindus  themselves  afiirm)  tended 
to  make  the  women  of  the  nation  more  secluded  and 
degraded  than  they  were  before,  so  their  yoke  be- 
came thereby  heavier  and  their  chains  stronger. 
Here  we  were,  anxious  to  deliver  them,  but  they 
were  unapproachable  in  eitlier  school  or  zenana,  and 
our  inability  was  the  more  keenly  felt  in  the  fact  that 
we  had  no  female  agency  of  any  kind  by  which  the 
attempt  could  be  made.  To  save  India,  while  its  one 
hundred  and  thirty  millions  of  women  were  so  jeal- 
ously shut  up  from  our  teaching,  seemed  to  postpone 
the  salvation  of  the  land  indefinitely.  Even  the 
agency  to  make  the  attempt  could  not  be  originated 
by  any  effort  of  ours ;  if  we  ever  obtained  it,  it  must 
come  as  a  gift  from  Him  "  who  can  raise  the  dead, 
and  call  the  things  that  are  not  as  though  they 
were." 

Underlying  all  this  was  a  fearful  consideration  tliat 
at  first  I  could  not  understand.  One  day,  in  Bareilly, 
we  were  arguing  with  an  elderly  native  on  the  im- 


230  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

portance  of  his  consenting  to  grant  Lis  daughters  the 
advantages  of  education.  After  we  had  exhausted 
the  usual  arguments,  and  answered  the  objections 
made  by  them  to  such  a  proposal,  he  began  to  fail  in 
the  usual  courtesy,  and,  in  a  temper,  put  this  ques- 
tion, with  much  energy,  'VNow,  sahib,  let  me  ask, 
what  interest  have  you  in  wishing  to  make  my 
daughters  nautch  girls?"  and  forthwith  concluded  the 
interview.  Even  then  I  did  not  quite  understand 
him.  These  "  nautch  girls  "  I  had  seen,  a  few  weeks 
before,  at  the  court  of  the  Nawab  of  Rampore,  on  the 
occasion  of  his  investiture  with  a  dignity  ordered  by 
the  queen  of  England  for  his  kindness  toward  us,  who 
were  called  "  The  Nynee  Tal  Eef  ugees,"  and  to  whom 
he  had  extended  such  sympathy  and  assistance  as  he 
dare  show  while  we  were  shut  up  and  besieged  by  the 
Sepoy  forces  of  Khan  Bahadur,  the  rebel  governor  of 
Rohilcund,  under  this  emperor  of  Delhi.  This  help, 
which  had  to  be  quietly  conveyed  to  us,  was  in 
money,  food,  and  valuable  information  as  to  the  time 
and  mode  of  the  attacks  to  be  made  by  Khan  Baha- 
dur's troops  upon  our  position  on  the  south-east.  He, 
also,  under  the  pretense  of  neutrality,  refused  to 
allow  our  south-western  road,  which  ran  through  his 
territory,  to  be  approached  by  either  friend  or  foe. 
It  was  for  him  a  great  risk  thus  to  aid  us.  He  had 
to  avoid  exposing  himself  to  be  denounced,  and  at- 
tacked by  the  forces  of  the  emperor ;  but,  faithfully 
sustained  by  his  chief  officers,  he  managed  to  avoid 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  231 

coniproniising  himself  too  far,  and  yet  quietly  af- 
forded us  this  valuable  service.  We  often  trembled 
for  his  safety,  surrounded  as  he  was  by  thousands  of 
fanatical  Mohammedans  in  his  own  capital,  who  had 
their  suspicions  that  he  was  in  sympathy  with  tlie 
Christians  in  the  mountains  above,  instead  of  attack- 
ing and  cutting  us  off,  as  the  emperor  expected  him 
to  do.  We  heard  that  they  even  talked  of  his  assas- 
sination, "making  him  a  head  shorter,"  as  the  phrase 
was,  at  some  of  their  festivals.  It  is  pleasant  to 
think  that  he  was  animated  in  this  course,  not  by 
mere  policy — in  view  of  the  probability  that  the  En- 
glish would  come  out  victorious  and  restore  their 
authority — but  by  a  grateful  sense  of  obligation  for 
the  justice  he  and  his  house  had  ever  received  at  the 
hands  of  the  English  government,  and  a  desire  to  re- 
main their  friend  forever.  I  heard  him  very  earnest- 
ly avow  these  convictions  publicly  on  the  day  of  the 
investiture. 

When  the  conflict  was  over,  he  was  suitably  hon- 
ored and  rewarded  for  the  service.  Twenty-three  of 
us  "  refugees  "  (all  then  within  reach)  were  invited  to 
spend  the  day  and  dine  with  him,  at  his  palace  at 
Rampore  on  the  occasion,  in  January,  1860.  We 
went,  and  it  was  to  us  a  real  pleasure  to  see  this 
humane  and  good  man  thus  honored.  Here,  for  the 
first  time,  I  saw  these  "  nautch  girls,"  their  tableaux 
and  performances  being  a  part  of  the  entertainment 
which  his  highness  had  provided,  with  which  to  pass 


232  Fbom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

tlie  hours  of  the  day  that  we  were  to  spend  with  him. 
Even  then  their  full  character  had  not  been  appre- 
hended by  me  beyond  the  fact  that  they  were  public 
women,  who  sang  and  danced  and  caricatured  for  a 
living. 

A  few  weeks  later  I  was  in  Lucknow,  looking 
into  the  condition  of  our  boys'  school  there,  when  an 
attempt  was  made  by  two  of  these  nautch  girls  to  se- 
cure admission  to  that  school,  in  order  to  learn  tlie 
English  language.  Our  head  teacher  at  once  in- 
formed me  who  they  were,  and  what  their  object, 
and  the  terrible  meaning  of  the  phrase  "  nautch  girl " 
was  disclosed.  They  were  immediately  refused  ad- 
mission. 

Alas !  they  were  members  of  a  profession  "  whose 
doors  are  the  gates  of  hell,"  and  their  object,  in  add- 
ing English  to  their  other  accomplishments,  was  to 
facilitate  their  seductions  to  those  of  our  own  race  in 
Lucknow  who  spoke  that  language !  They  were  ac- 
complished for  their  calling,  and  thus  monopolized 
education,  so  that  the  pure  ladies  of  the  land  loathed 
both,  supposing  them  to  be  inseparable.  The  indig- 
nant question  of  the  old  native  was  explained.  Pros- 
titution and  education  were,  in  his  view,  combined ; 
and,  no  doubt,  the  same  opinion  was  held  by  many  of 
the  mothers,  who  shrank,  for  this  reason,  from  our 
offer  of  instruction  for  tlieir  daughters.  Surely  here 
was  one  of  the  devil's  own  masterpieces,  when  he  had 
60  confused  and  manipulated  matters  in  the  iiiiiids  of 


From  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  233 

the  natives  around  iis,  as  to  bring  tliem  to  the  convic- 
tion that  the  self -protect  ion  which  intelligence  would 
confer  on  their  women  would  positively  work  the 
other  w^ay,  and  thus  led  the  ladies  to  instinctively 
shrink  from  education  as  a  degradation  which  would 
sink  them  to  a  level  with  fallen  women,  so  that  puri- 
ty and  virtue  forbade  them  to  be  intelligent. 

Here  was  one  side  of  that  "wall  five  hundred 
yards  high,"  of  which  Dr.  Duff  had  written.  It  was 
disheartening  to  look  up  at  it,  and  think  of  the  more 
than  one  hundred  millions  of  the  modest  women  of 
India  on  the  other  side,  inclosed  within  such  a  false 
and  wicked  prejudice,  living  and  dying  there  in  ig- 
norance and  darkness.  To  reach  them  was  simply 
impossible  to  any  or  to  all  the  male  missionaries 
of  Christendom.  In  no  way  under  the  heavens 
could  they  be  reached  and  enlightened  except  by 
breaking  down  the  priestly  tyranny  and  public  opin- 
ion which  sustained  such  vile  and  wicked  sentiments, 
and  by  presenting  to  these  timid  and  credulous  creat- 
ures the  bright  examples  of  women  who  had  become 
educated  without  the  slightest  compromise  of  their 
purity  and  character ;  and  this,  not  merely  by  the  ex- 
ample of  the  women  of  other  lands,  scattered  here 
and  there  in  their  country,  but  by  their  own  women, 
the  daughters  of  India,  not  only  enlightened  without 
the  loss  of  modesty,  but  even  exalted  in  all  that  was 
lovely,  and  virtuous,  and  of  good  report,  by  sancti- 
fied intelligence.     But  where  were  these  examples  to 


234  Feom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

come  from  for  onr  work  in  the  Gangetic  valley  ? 
God  alone  knew.  And  he  did  know,  and  was  even 
then 

Treasuring  "  up  his  bright  designs" 
To  work  "his  sovereign  will" 

on  behalf  of  these  long  imprisoned  souls,  for  whose 
deliverance  w^e  were  so  solicitous  and  praj^erful.  I 
could  not  even  imagine  how  it  was  to  be  done,  but 
having  put  the  whole  matter  into  his  hands,  was  hum- 
bly and  patiently  consenting  to  be  "  led  by  a  way  " 
that  I  knew  not.  How  plain  it  all  seems  now  as  we 
walk  in  the  light  into  which  he  led  us,  out  of  the 
darkness  of  twenty-five  years  ago.  A  golden  chain 
of  many  links  had  to  be  formed  by  the  hand  of  God 
to  lift  up  these  poor  ignorant  creatures  out  of  their 
misapprehension  and  prejudice.  JS'ot  one  zenana  was 
then  open  to  us,  even  if  we  had  the  suitable  agents  to 
enter  them,  which  we  had  not;  now  there  are  a  thou- 
sand zenanas  open,  thank  God !  and  we  have,  in  in- 
creasing numbers,  the  suitable  and  successful  agents 
to  enter  them. 

1.  One  of  the  greatest  changes  the  Orient  ever  saw 
was  here  originated.  IIow  was  it  done?  Let  us 
enter  Delhi  and  see  the  first  link  in  process  of  devel- 
opment, so  that  it  should  be  fully  formed  in  time  to 
have  the  other  requisite  links  united  to  it  after  God 
had  prepared  the  way  during  the  ensuing  twelve 
years.  When  we  reach  Bareilly  we  shall  find  and 
take  up  those  other  links  of  this  blessed  chain,  all 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  235 

united  with  tliis  one  here,  and  complete  for  their 
object,  and  then  see  the  wonderful  purpose  of  the 
Almighty  fully  manifest  on  behalf  of  our  mission, 
and  the  special  work  for  which  he  had  led  us  to 
India. 

In  the  book  so  often  referred  to  I  give  the  full 
account  of  my  visit  to  the  fallen  emperor  just  before 
his  trial.  Tbese  trials  were  held  in  the  magnificent 
Dewanee-Khass,  the  throne-room  of  the  Moguls,  the 
very  center  of  the  conspiracy  which  had  instigated 
and  extended  such  bloodshed  and  woe  over  India 
eight  months  before.  Here,  in  this  most  gorgeous 
audience  hall  in  the  East,  it  was  arranged  that  those 
state  trials  should  be  held  before  a  commission  of 
English  officers  of  high  rank.  They  sat  on  one 
side  of  the  emperor's  musnud,  or  throne,  made  of  a 
block  of  crystal,  and  which  had  done  duty  in  place 
of  that  wonderful  Takt  Taous,  or  "  Peacock  Tlirone," 
on  which  the  Emperor  Shah  Jehan  had  expended, 
according  to  history,  the  enormous  sum  of  thirty 
millions  sterhng  ($150,000,000).  The  fame  of  this 
matchless  seat  had  attracted  thither,  in  March,  1Y39, 
that  ferocious  conqueror,  Nadir  Shah,  the  Persian 
king,  who  overthrew  the  army  of  the  Mogul  em- 
peror, plundered  his  treasury,  and  appropriated  that 
Taht  Taous  I  and,  after  slaying,  in  mere  wantoness  of 
massacre,  nearly  one  hundred  thousand  of  the  help- 
less inhabitants  of  Delhi,  men,  women,  and  children, 
marclied  off  with  the  plundered  trophies  to  Persia. 


236  FsoM  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

It  was  in  this  same  gorgeous  apartment  where  this 
Persian  monster  sat,  and  chaflSngly  taunted  his  im- 
perial captive,  who  trembled  in  his  presence,  and  was 
glad  to  be  rid  of  him  even  at  this  fearful  price  of 
blood  and  treasure,  that  the  last  of  this  grand  and 
guilty  line  of  Mogul  emperors  and  his  associates 
were,  in  this  December  of  1857,  placed  on  trial  for 
their  lives,  and  it  was  my  lot,  unexpected,  but  provi- 
dential, to  be  here  to  witness  this  hnal  catastrophe. 
My  opportunity  was  all  the  more  remarkable  from 
the  fact  that  it  could  not  be  shared  by  others,  the 
only  road  then  open  to  Delhi  being  the  Punjab  road, 
down  which  I  came  from  Dehra  Doon.  Forced  by 
stern  necessity,  having  no  money  to  buy  food  or 
clothing  for  my  family,  1  had  ventured  around  the 
spurs  of  the  Himalayas  from  Nynee  Tal,  on  hearing 
that  Delhi  was  captured  and  a  bank  once  more  opened 
at  Mussoorie,  where  I  could  sell  a  bill  on  London 
w^hich  I  had,  and  thus  supply  our  wants.  As  I  then 
passed  round  through  Gurhwal,  the  great  valley  full  in 
view  ^ve  or  six  thousand  feet  below  was  still  overrun 
by  the  Sepoys,  and  the  country  between  Delhi  and 
Allahabad  was  nearly  all  in  the  hands  of  the  forty 
thousand  of  them  who  had  fled  from  Delhi  when  the 
little  English  force  had  captured  it  in  September.  We 
reached  Mussoorie  in  safety,  and  descended  into  the 
valley  of  the  Doon,  anxious  to  reach  the  road  to  Delhi. 
Here  I  received  one  morning  a  note  from  General  Eck- 
ford,  of   the  English  army,  who  had  heard  of  our 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  237 

coming,  wishing  me  to  stop  and  give  them  one  or 
two  sermons.  We  followed  his  messenger,  and  when 
near  his  residence  he  came  out  to  receive  us.  He 
looked  exceedingly  happy,  and  stepped  forward,  and 
before  a  personal  salutation  of  any  kind  could  be 
uttered,  the  glad  thought  which  was  filling  his  soul  so 
full  that  morning  found  expression.  Taking  my 
hand  in  his  and  looking  me  in  the  face,  the  old 
Christian  soldier  exclaimed,  "  Thirty-four  years  ago 
this  day,  sir,  God,  for  Christ's  sake,  converted  my 
'  soul  and  pardoned  all  my  sins !  How  do  you  do  ?  " 
The  reader  will  easily  understand  how  quickly  we 
were  at  home  with  this  devoted  Episcopalian.  We 
remained  three  days,  and  held  several  services  with 
his  circle  of  good  people.  On  our  departure  the 
general  furnished  me  with  letters  of  introduction  to 
his  son  and  son-in-law,  then  in  Delhi,  which  opened 
our  way  and  proved  of  very  great  value  to  us,  as  the 
sequel  will  show. 

Through  this  narrow  path,  from  Mussoorie  by  the 
Doon  to  Delhi,  we  liad  found  our  way  into  this 
center,  to  the  surprise  of  our  military  friends,  who 
were  holding  the  city  and  conducting  these  trials, 
and  waiting  for  the  troops  from  England,  by  whose 
assistance  they  were  to  go  forth  to  clear  the  country 
of  the  mutineers  a  few  months  later.  The  only  way 
then  for  letters,  or  for  communication  with  the  su- 
preme government  at  Calcutta,  was  to  send  up  by  the 
Punjab,  thence  down  by  the  Indus  to  Bombay,  and 


238  Fbom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

on  round  all  India,  requiring  many  weeks  to  send  or 
receive  letters.  It  thus  came  to  pass  that  I  was  in 
the  imperial  city  at  such  a  time  to  sec  the  Moguls, 
so-called,  bidding 

"  A  long  farewell  to  all "  their  "  greatness." 

My  military  friends  had  secured  me  a  permit  to  go 
anywhere,  and  to  see  any  thing  that  was  to  be  seen, 
in  the  captured  city. 

Wliat  most  of  all  interested  me  in  Delhi  were  the 
trials  then  proceeding  in  the  Dewanee-Khass.  Men 
tliat  sat  on  thrones  twelve  months  before,  and  their 
imperial  master,  were  here  awaiting  their  trial  and 
doom  for  the  rapine  and  murder  committed  by  them, 
or  in  their  name,  upon  Christian  men,  women,  and 
children.  It  was  one  of  the  most  vivid  pictures  of 
the  judgment-day  of  the  great  God  that  has  ever 
been  seen,  to  behold  these  criminals  of  the  highest 
class  and  order  of  society  brought  to  account  as 
though  they  were  common  men.  Of  course,  the 
emperor's  case  transcended  every  thing  else.  But  of 
this  I  have  given  elsewhere,  as  intimated,  a  full 
account.  Let  us  come  now  to  the  great  fact  that  has 
led  us  here.  On  the  day  in  question  I  was  in  the 
Dewanee-Khass  witnessing  this  "  great  assize,"  and 
became  very  tired  standing  so  long  on  the  polished 
marble  floor.  There  was  not  an  unoccupied  seat  in 
the  apartment.  Indeed,  no  seat  belonged  to  the 
room,  save  the   throne,   as  no    one   ever  sat  down 


From.  Boston  to  Bareilly.  239 

there  except  the  emperor  himself.  The  seats  and 
table  for  the  use  of  the  commission  conductins:  the 
trials  had  been  provided,  but  were  all  occupied.  No 
provision  was  made  for  spectators,  nor  were  tliere  any 
there  to  be  accommodated.  I  was  the  only  outsider  in 
the  apartment.  Wearied  out  at  length  wuth  this  long 
standing,  I  had  to  settle  the  question  whether  I 
would  give  up  the  great  opportunity  of  seeing  such 
a  siglit,  or  retire  to  w^here  I  could  sit  down  and  rest. 
Anxious  to  remain,  I  tried  to  endure  the  difficulty  a 
little  longer.  But  the  endurance  soon  came  to  an 
end,  for  the  "necessity  that  knows  no  law"  had 
come  upon  me ;  something  must  be  done,  or  I  should 
sink  down  from  sheer  exhaustion.  I  gave  a  question- 
ing glance  at  the  crystal  seat,  no  more  to  be  occupied 
by  its  imperial  master,  and  wondered  if  I  might  dare 
step  forward  and  occupy  it !  But  the  presumption 
of  thinking  whether  I  might  sit  on  the  throne  of  the 
great  Mogul,  and  in  such  a  presence,  too !  Well,  on 
reflection,  it  did  not  seem  such  a  dreadful  impropriety 
after  all.  I  knew  that  the  throne  and  its  former 
occupant  were,  just  then,  at  a  great  discount  there ; 
that  he  was  a  criminal,  and  would  have  no  right  to 
protest  at  the  sacrilege  of  an  American  Republican 
(or  any  one  else),  who  chose  to  take  the  venture, 
occupying  his  seat  for  the  time  being,  nor  did  I  sup- 
pose, all  things  considered,  that  the  gentlemen  of  the 
court  would  order  me  to  vacate  it ;  so,  gathering  all 
my  resolution  to  take  the  responsibility  anyhow,  up 


2i0  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

I  walked  and  sat  down  upon  it!  The  thing  was 
done.  There  were  a  few  glances  and  a  quiet  smile 
here  and  there  among  the  gentlemen  of  the  commis- 
sion, and  a  sad  and  wondering  glance  from  the 
Nawab  of  BuUubghur,  the  prince  then  on  trial, 
right  in  front,  but  nothing  more.  So  I  rested  down 
into  the  quiet  conviction  that  my  temerity  had  cost 
me  nothing,  and  that  the  seat  was  a  very  good  one, 
and  a  great  relief  from  the  keen  distress  of  standing 
there  so  long.  It  may  be  that  I  am  the  only  Meth- 
odist preacher  who  has  sat  upon  a  real  throne.  We 
sing  at  home,  and  I  indorse  the  sentiment  as  heartily 
as  ever,  after  having  tried  the  great  experiment  for 
some  hours,  that 

"  I'd  rather  be  the  least  of  those 

Who  are  the  Lord's  alone, 
Than  wear  a  royal  diadem 

And  sit  upon  a  throne." 

The  "diadem"  I  did  not  wear,  though  I  saw  those 
of  the  Delhi  princes  in  the  durbar  at  Benares,  twelve 
months  before  ;  but  the  throne  1  did  sit  upon. 

2.  Yet,  as  I  sat  there,  I  was  soon  as  far  as  a  man  need 
be  from  any  personal  vanity  or  self-assertion.  A  won- 
derful condition  of  thought  and  feeling  came  stealing 
over  me,  solemn  and  religious.  Losing  sight,  for  the 
time,  of  the  trial  and  the  prisoners,  something  within 
(perhaps  it  was  my  own  mind  lifted  up  and  enlight- 
ened beyond  any  former  experience)  began  to  question 
and  suggest,  until  I  was  most  wondrously  impressed 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  241 

with  the  lesson  and  significance  of  the  sitiiation,  and 
became  most  anxious  to  understand  its  bearing  and 
purpose.  I  asked  myself,  "  Is  not  this  the  hand  of 
God  in  human  history  ?  What  means  this  overthrow 
of  one  of  earth's  greatest  dynasties  ?  And  what  shall 
be  the  end  of  these  things  ?  What  purpose  is  the 
Almiglity  working  out  by  this  amazing  ^overturn,' 
and  the  facts  associated  therewith  ? " 

To  me  individually  these  questions  had  a  peculiar 
and  personal  significance.  I  had  been  doomed  to  be 
hung,  with  my  wife  and  children,  eight  months  before, 
because  we  were  Christian  missionaries,  by  a  lieuten- 
ant of  this  very  emperor.  Khan  Bahadur,  the  rebel 
nawab  of  Eohilcund.  He  did  hang — on  a  gallows  at 
the  Kotwalee  at  Bareilly — and  then  gave  their  bodies 
up  to  insult  and  degradation,  fifteen  of  njy  Christian 
neighbors,  civil  and  military  officers  of  the  English 
government,  including  Judge  Eobertson,  who  had  en- 
tertained us  until  we  obtained  and  furnished  a  house, 
which  house  Khan  Bahadur's  Sepoys  burned,  with  all 
tliat  it  contained,  including  my  library,  on  the  same 
day.  They  also  beheaded  Maria,  the  first  female 
member  that  joined  our  Church  in  India.  How, 
almost  by  a  miracle,  we  escaped  the  hands  of  this 
"bloody  man,"  is  narrated  in  full  in  The  Land  of 
the  Veda.  And  now,  here  I  was,  alive  and  well,  in 
the  very  palace  of  the  fanatical  emperor  who  had 
ordered  our  death,  as  well  as  that  of  all  our  class ; 

yes,  liere  I  was,  quietly  sitting  on  liis  throne,  while 
16 


242  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

he  was  a  prisoner  and  a  criminal,  to  be  tried  for  his 
life,  and  I  permitted  to  be  present !  Had  I  been  in 
that  court  eight  months  ago,  or  any  day  for  nearly 
six  months  after,  how  different  would  our  relative 
circumstances  have  been !  I  should  not  have  been 
sitting;  he  would  have  sat,  and  I  should  have  had 
to  stand  and  take  my  doom  as  it  fell  from  his  lips. 
What  our  sentence  would  have  been  was  too  terribly 
illustrated  in  many  sad  cases  to  allow  me  to  doubt 
as  to  its  terrible  character.  In  this  presence  how 
fully  I  realized  it  all ! 

But  then,  merely  personal  relations  to  the  circum- 
stances soon  passed  away  from  my  consideration,  and 
something  far  more  important  took  their  place.  As  I 
sat  there  my  mind  seemed  lifted  up  to  a  view  of  our 
mission,  its  requirements,  and  its  future,  beyond  any 
thing  of  which  I  had  been  previously  conscious. 
Successive  aspects  of  it  seemed  to  pass  before  my 
view  with  wonderful  clearness  and  connection,  and  a 
strong  conviction  of  the  power  and  adequacy  of  God 
to  meet  all  its  ^rising  wants  shed  its  confidence  over 
my  soul.  It  seemed  one  of  the  most  exalted  occa- 
sions of  my  life,  and  I  yielded  myself  entirely  to  its 
influence.  In  attempting  to  describe  its  most  im-  . 
portant  manifestation,  I  cannot  communicate  to  my 
readers,  by  any  power  of  the  pen,  an  adequate  idea  of  i 
the  clearness  of  view  and  assurance  of  divine  assist- 
ance which  was  given  me  in  that  hour.  But  I  w^ill 
indicate  as  I  can  its  leading  aspects.  ^   The  one  hun- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  243 

dred  thousand  Sepoys  who  had  risen  at  this  man's 
instigation,  to  work  his  will,  in  the  interest  of  the 
cruel  creed  of  "  the  False  Prophet,''  against  Christ 
and  his  people,  and  to  extinguish,  if  they  could,  our 
holy  religion  forever  from  the  soil  of  India,  had  been 
met  by  feeble  Christian  forces  at  Cawnpore,  Lucknow, 
and  Delhi,  and  been  dashed  back  defeated.  Yet 
they  were  still  defiant  and  determined,  and  were  then 
raging  over  the  country — our  own  mission  field  being 
yet  entirely  in  their  hands.  But  I  knew  that  prep- 
arations were  being  made,  and  additional  forces  were 
hurrying  out  from  England,  and  that  soon  movable 
columns  would  be  on  their  track,  hunting  them  down, 
in  the  interest  of  the  public  peace  and  safety.  The 
results  could  not  be  doubtful.  They  would  be  over- 
thrown, until  two  of  them  would  not  be  left  together 
to  do  further  harm.  Those  who  survived  would  not 
dare  venture  to  return  to  their  homes — and  those 
liomes  w^ere  largely  in  our  own  mission-field — because 
the  regimental  rolls  would  sufiSce  for  their  identifica- 
tion and  punishment.  What  was  to  become  of  their 
children,  thus  left  orphans  and  desolate? 

Again,  this  sorrow  would  be  intensified  by  the 
famine  that  was  sure  to  follow  the  rebellion.  The 
land  would  be  thrown  out  of  cultivation  by  the  war 
and  the  plunder  of  the  Sepoys  in  order  to  live — for 
men  would  not  sow  where  they  saw  no  prospect  of 
reaping  during  the  coming  year — and  thus,  upon  tens 
of   thousands  of    the  poor,  who   had  taken  no  part 


2^4  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

in  this  great  military  mutiny,  the  coming  famine 
would  fall  with  fearful  weight.  Our  mission-field, 
then  without  roads  or  railways  to  arrest  or  mitigate 
the  calamity,  would  feel  the  infliction  most.  So,  it 
was  likely  that,  within  twelve  or  fifteen  months,  thou- 
sands of  destitute  orphans — many  of  them  the  sons 
and  daughters  of  the  Sepoy  race — would  be  left  in 
misery  and  starvation  within  reach  of  our  own  hands. 
The  question  then  rose,  whether  we  should  get  ready 
and  be  prepared  to  avail  ourselves  of  the  ojyportunity 
to  take  up  a  number  of  these  children,  and  not  only 
save  their  lives,  but  also  train  them  in  the  knowledge 
of  Him  who  died  for  them,  with  the  expectation  that 
they  would  become,  especially  in  this  feeble  com- 
mencement of  our  mission,  the  very  helpers— male 
and  female — that  we  so  much  required  in  our  work 
for  the  evangelization  of  the  valley  of  the  Ganges  ? 

Then  there  came  up  before  my  mind,  to  complete 
the  picture,  the  vision  or  foresight  of  the  churches 
and  congregations  and  schools  of  the  early  future — 
the  college,  the  theological  seminary,  and  the  cult- 
ured native  agents,  men  and  women,  that  would,  in 
the  better  days  to  come,  carry  this  blessed  cause 
through  that  valley  and  over  the  land  in  Gospel 
power.  But  its  brightest  feature  was  the  oppor- 
tunity which  was  involved  for  woman,  and  which 
would  hereby  be  developed  to  give  Christianity  a 
social  life — the  family  power — to  become  the  cult- 
ured helpmeets  of  our  future  teachers  and  preachers, 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  24:5 

and  resulting  in  tlie  introduction  of  tlie  female  ele- 
ment into  our  congregations,  and  tlie  rolling  back  of 
those  threats  and  exultation  of  the  heathen  over  us. 
What  a  glorious  vision  it  was,  and  in  such  a  place ! 

As  it  bodied  itself  forth  before  my  mind,  and  be- 
came to  me  as  real  as  something  that  could  almost  be 
touched  now,  and  would  all  become  glorious  fact  ere 
long,  my  thoughts  turned  to  the  question,  "  How  can 
this  be  done  ?  If  God  is  going  to  give  us  the  oppor- 
tunity, how  are  we  to  stand  prepared  to  avail  our- 
selves of  it  and  turn  it  to  account  % "  .  Without  hesita- 
tion, I  assumed  it  could  be  done ;  that  the  Church  at 
home  would  stand  by  me  if  I  called  on  them  for  assist- 
ance, and  enabled  them  to  see  the  necessity  and  oppor- 
tunity that  were  coming  within  our  reach  for  meeting 
the  great  emergency  of  our  new  work.  I  felt  sure 
that  the  women  of  Methodism  would  respond  for 
the  portion  of  the  scheme  which  especially  contem- 
plated the  rescue  and  redemption  of  their  own  sex, 
in  the  hope  that,  by  their  aid  and  sympathy,  would 
be  furnished  the  very  agency  by  which  missionary 
ladies  could  yet  make  their  influence  felt  in  the 
homes  of  India  for  the  salvation  of  their  benighted 
sisters.  !N"or  was  I  insensible  to  the  difliculties  in  the 
way  of  these  glowing  possibilities.  I  saw  clearly 
what  would  have  to  be  overcome  in  order  to  realize 
this  aggregate  of  good,  and  yet  was  aware  that  I 
knew  not  how  the  obstacles  could  be  removed ;  only 
I  felt  persuaded  that,  while  God's  plans  were  not  yet 


246  FiiOM  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

fully  intimated,  I  had  only  to  trust  and  wait,  satisfied 
that  he  was  here  suggesting,  and  would  surely  guide 
the  whole  matter  to  his  own  blessed  conclusion. 

I  sat  there  and  saw  the  seal  of  infamy  and  doom  be- 
ing judicially  stamped  on  the  forehead  of  this  Oi-iental 
representative  of  "  the  Arabian  Antichrist,"  whose 
blasphemous  system  had  dared,  wherever  their  sword 
had  power,  during  the  past  twelve  hundred  years, 
deliberately  and  remorselessly,  and  in  the  name  of 
Almighty  God,  to  degrade  woman,  and  nowhere  with 
more  terrible  success  than  in  India.  Tlieir  Koran, 
to  consummate  this  degradation,  denies  the  wife  (no 
matter  how  faithful  or  subordinate)  a  partnersliip  in 
immortality,  and  even  provides  a  substitute  for  her 
in  the  "  Houris"  of  the  carnal  heaven,  which  Moham- 
med taught  his  followers  to  expect.  Such  are  wom- 
an's wrongs,  in  time  and  in  eternity,  from  this  system 
of  sensuality.  And  now,  with  the  cup  of  their  in- 
iquity full,  and  the  patience  of  heaven  exhausted, 
and  outraged  humanity  demanding  their  overthrow, 
here  was  the  imperial  head  of  this  system,  with  his 
house  and  confederates,  sinking  out  of  sight  never  to 
rise  again.  But  I  felt  that  the  justice  of  God  would 
not  be  complete  unless  the  tyranny  of  the  system 
should  follow  its  representative.  Both  must  sink — 
and  all  kindred  systems  with  them — ere  woman  was 
avenged  and  her  emancipation  complete. 

In  whose  name  and  by  what  agency  should  this 
blessed  change  and  redemption  be  commenced  and 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  247 

finally  wrought  out  for  her  was  then  presented  to  niy 
mind,  and  the  answer  was  at  hand.  In  that  name 
which  this  man  execrated  and  denied,  as  "  the  Son  of 
the  living  God,"  blaspheming  his  divinity  and  butch- 
ering his  ministers,  and  Christian  ladies,  even  under 
his  own  palace  roof : — in  that  name — ^that  "  Prince  of 
the  kings  of  the  earth  " — even  He  ''  that  liveth,  and 
was  dead,"  and  is  "  alive  for  evermore ;  and  "  who  hath 
"the  keys  of  hell  and  of  death:" — yes,  how  manifest 
it  was  that  that  "  King  of  kings  "  had  come  in  judg- 
ment upon  this  antichristian  king,  and  had  doomed 
him  and  his  dynasty  to  be  "  ground  to  powder." 
The  military  commission  was  merely  the  instrument 
of  God  Almighty's  will,  and  some  of  them,  at  least, 
were  conscious  of  it.  This  sin  and  this  suffering 
were  to  be  ended  because  woman's  great  Friend  and 
Saviour  had  appeared  for  her  rescue. 

British  arms  might  abolish  thrones,  annihilate  sov- 
ereignties, overthrow  great  armies  and  combinations, 
and  give  rest  and  peace  to  a  bleeding  land ;  but,  all 
that  done,  there  remained  to  be  accomplished  a  might- 
ier conquest  which  their  swords  could  not  achieve ;  a 
victory  to  be  won  which  required  a  far  different  agency 
for  its  consummation.  That  agency  was  woman — the 
very  creature  whom  the  falling  system  had  degraded 
so  deeply,  and  whom  her  Lord  and  Saviour  was  about 
to  call  to  the  work — a  work  which  she  only  could  do. 
Her  gentle  hand,  her  beautiful  example,  her  Chris- 
tian teaching,  were  to  be  the  powerful  ministry  to 


248  From  Boston  to  Bakkilly. 

prostrate  tlie  results  of  this  vindictive  system  in  the 
dust,  and  lead  out  her  wronged  and  benighted  sister- 
hood from  their  bondage  and  their  sins  to  become  the 
free,  the  enlightened,  and  exalted  "  daughters  of  the 
Lord  Almiglitj." 

What  has  already  been  accomplished  in  this  direc- 
tion, after  twenty-five  years,  and  the  far-reaching  re- 
sults which  spread  out  before  us  so  hopefully,  we 
shall  soon  see  at  Bareilly.  1  believe  I  was  led  here 
for  a  purpose,  and  divinely  aided  on  behalf  of  our 
mission.  To  me  this  was  the  place  and  the  hour  that 
my  divine  Lord  had  chosen  in  which  the  idea,  not 
only  of  an  orphanage  for  our  mission,  but  also  of  a 
Woman's  Missionary  Society  for  our  work  gener- 
ally, should  come  with  a  practical  power  to  my 
mind  so  decided,  that  never  from  this  hour  of  its  in- 
ception have  I  hesitated  to  go  right  on  with  confi- 
dence, assured  that  every  obstacle  to  its  development 
would  be  removed  as  we  came  to  it,  and  that  God 
would  consummate  our  hopes  under  the  persuasion 
that  "  the  set  time  to  favor  her  had  come."  Here, 
then,  the  precious  thought  and  purpose  were  born,  and 
here  the  first  effort  for  both  was  made.  Tliey  had 
no  merely  human  authorship.  They  were  originated 
by  the  divine  suggestion.  In  this  Dewanee-Khass 
the  first  exposition  of  them  was  written,  and  from 
this  went  forth  the  earliest  of  those  appeals  which 
were  afterward  so  deeply  to  touch  the  hearts  of  cult- 
ured women  in  America's  Christian  homes,  leading 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bar  kill  y.  249 

them  to  send  ns  the  means,  or  come  tlieraselves,  to  help 
us  to  educate  those  orphan  girls,  and  to  carry  the  holj 
Gospel  into  those  zenana  homes,  at  tliat  time  so  jeal- 
ously closed  against  us.  The  remaining  links  neces- 
sary for  the  divine  purpose  would  soon  be  united 
with  those  already  prepared,  and  when  all  were  com- 
plete those  doors  would  be  providentially  opened, 
and  from  that  hour  onward  Christianity  was  to  wit- 
ness what  was  long  ago  foretold  concerning  the  di- 
vine mission  to  be  conferred  upon  "  the  daughters  of 
Zion;' 

The  glorified  Messiah  was  to  need  heralds  suited 
in  sex  to  the  seclusion  which  only  they  could  pene- 
trate, in  order  to  convey  to  those  desolate  ones  whom 
Satan  had  so  long  held  in  darkness,  the  joyful  mes- 
sage of  salvation.  The  Holy  Spirit  was  to  inspire 
these  daughters  of  the  Church  with  courage,  as  tliey 
went  fortli  to  proclahn  to  those  who  "  had  no  hope," 
and  were  "  without  God  in  the  world,"  that  their 
Kedeemer  had  come  to  save  them.  Victory  was 
to  be  assured  to  them.  Before  these  gentle  but  effi- 
cient heralds,  reigning  and  powerful  systems  of  re- 
sistence  would  be  terrified  and  flee  away ;  while  the 
mothers  in  Israel,  who  sent  them  forth  and  sus- 
tained them,  were  to  participate  in  the  glad  results. 
Nor  was  the  prediction  to  be  interpreted  of  past  events 
— for  all  its  verbs  are  in  the  present  tense.  It  belongs 
to  the  Church  of  the  ascended  Messiah  (verse  18),  and 
expresses  the  Christian   victories  to  be  won  by  tlie 


250  Yro^i  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

female  agency  of  that  Church  as  thev  announce  the 
glad  tidiags  of  his  coming  kingdom,  and  also  the  joy 
of  those  "at  home,"  who  were  to  share  in  the  tri- 
umphs of  this  "  great  host "  of  female  evangelists. 

The  warrant  and  the  result  are  given  by  Jehovah 
of  Hosts,  in  the  sacred  Hebrew,  on  this  wise : 

"  The  Lord  giveth  the  word  ; 

The  women  that  publish  the  tidings  are  a  great  host. 

Kings  of  armies  flee,  they  flee  : 

And  she  tha^  tarrieth  at  home  divideth  the  spoil." 

Psa.  Ixviii,  11,  12,    (Revised  Version.) 

As  I  dwelt  upon  the  prospect  and  its  possibilities 
my  mind  became  exclusively  occupied  with  the  sub- 
ject ;  the  trial,. the  prisoners,  and  the  surrounding  cir- 
cumstances seemed  to  become  of  little  importance 
compared  with  the  new  and  precious  ideas  that  had 
now  taken  possession  of  my  heart.  The  impulse 
grew  strong  to  communicate  to  those  who  could  aid 
me  what  I  saw  and  felt  so  clearly ;  so  I  drew  my  note 
book  from  my  pocket,  and  there  and  then  sketched 
out  the  coming  opportunity  and  my  appeal.  That 
original  letter  now  lies  before  me.  It  was  sent  to 
Dr.  Durbin,  to  be  published  in  our  Church  papers. 
1  will  be  excused  in  quoting  the  introductory  sen- 
tences and  the  substance  of  tliat  letter : 

"  The  King's  Palace,  Delhi,  Dec.  20,  1857. 

"  Eey.  J.  P.  DcTKBiN,  D.D. : 

"  My  Dear  Doctor  :  How  wonderful  it  seems  to 
pass  from  the  conditions  of  weary  fugitives,  subject 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  251 

to  constant  alarm  and  in  danger  of  our  lives,  living 
in  a  cabin  on  the  mountains,  with  some  anxiety  as  to 
how  we  were  to  "  keep  body  and  soul  together  "  till 
liberty  and  relief  should  reach  us — what  a  transition  to 
pass  from  all  this  to  a  position  where  we  rest  in  a 
king's  palace,  ride  on  a  royal  elephant,  see  the  mul- 
titude salaam  before  us,  and  native  sentries  *  present 
arms '  as  we  pass  ;  to  have  plenty  to  eat  and  drink, 
and  feel  that  we  are  once  more  in  a  place  of  safety, 
with  thousands  of  British  bayonets  ready  to  preserve 
us  from  insult  and  harm.  Such  is  the  transition  that 
has  befallen  us.  Truly,  a  wonderful  one !  The 
change  is  the  more  remarkable  from  the  locality 
where  it  is  realized.  In  Delhi — only  a  few  weeks 
ago  the  very  focus  of  treason  and  cruelty — we  move 
about  in  perfect  confidence,  our  white  faces  a  suffi- 
cient guarantee  for  the  most  profound  respect  every- 
where ! 

"  I  am  writing  this  communication  in  no  less  a 
place  than  the  Dewanee-Khass^  the  Eeception  Hall 
of  the  ^  Great  Moguls.'  Around  me  are  the  splen- 
did emblems  of  their  magnificence:  the  carved  and 
gilded  ceilings ;  the  white  marble  arches  and  pil- 
lars, beautifully  inlaid  in  floral  designs,  the  stems  and 
leaves  and  flowers  of  which  are  formed  of  carnelians, 
jasper,  chalcedony,  and  other  precious  stones.  On 
the  ground  where  my  feet  are  resting  thousands  and 
millions  have  prostrated  themselves  in  homage  before 
the  successive  incumbents  of  one  of  the  mightiest 


252  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

monarcliies  that  the  world  ever  saw.  On  my  right 
hand  sits  the  *  Military  Commission '  for  the  trial 
of  the  State  prisoners,  and  there,  standing  before 
them,  is  the  Bulliibgiirh  Rajah  on  trial  for  his 
life." 

[I  then  asked  attention  to  the  fact  that  I  had  lately- 
received  by  the  mail,  at  length  opened  through  the 
Punjab  and  the  Indus,  a  copy  of  Zion\s  Herald 
giving  the  full  account  of  the  "  Farewell  Missionary 
Services''  in  Bromiield  Street,  Boston,  on  the  31st 
of  the  previous  May,  where  the  first  two  missionaries 
for  India,  with  their  wives,  were  solemnly  set  apart, 
and  so  many  kind  references  were  made  to  the  sol- 
itary superintendent,  who  was  supposed  to  be  then 
quietly,  but  safely,  awaiting  their  coming  at  Bareilly. 
I  asked  them  to  note  that  that  was  the  very  day  of 
the  massa/yi^e  of  Bareilly^  following  the  more  dread- 
ful one  here ;  days  of  darkness  and  sorrow  such  as 
Christianity  had  never  seen  before  in  the  Orient ; 
adding :] 

"  How  different  the  scenes  and  experience  of 
that  Lord's  day  to  you  and  to  us !  But  let  us  ac- 
cept the  omen  ;  it  is  one  of  good.  It  bespeaks  the 
innate  character  of  both  religions,  and  presages  their 
future.  The  deeds  of  Bareilly  exhibit  a  faith  which 
is  doomed  to  perish,  and  all  the  sooner  from  the  re- 
action caused  by  its  own  criminality ;  while  that 
holy  and  beautiful  scene  in  Bromfield  Street 
Church,  on  the  same  day,  illustrates,  in  its  own  prac- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  253 

tical  loveliness  and  mercy,  the  religion  of  our  ador- 
able Lord." 

[I  then  proceeded  to  draw  the  attention  of  the 
bretliren  and  sisters  of  the  Church  at  home,  for 
whom  the  letter  was  intended,  to  the  coming  retribu- 
tion and  the  famine  that  would  surely  follow,  and  to 
the  orphan  children  who  would  be  left  within  our 
own  mission  field,  and  gave  examples  of  the  great 
advantages  which  had  been  realized  by  missions  that, 
in  other  days,  had  accepted  and  used  such  opportuni- 
ties— advantages  that  would  be  equally  ours,  giving 
our  mission  an  advanced  position  that,  without  this 
aid,  fifty  years  of  toil  would  not  bring  to  us.  Here 
we  would  find,  and  find  soon,  the  scholars,  church 
members,  teachers,  and  preachers  that  our  work  re- 
quired to  give  it  a  propitious  commencement.  The 
possession  of  those  children  would  yield  us  at  once, 
and  under  the  best  circumstances,  the  means  of  devel- 
oping the  day-school.  Sabbath-school,  class-meetings, 
and  the  privileges  of  Sabbath  services. 

The  expense  indicated  $25  each  per  annum  for 
ten  years ;  which,  with  such  help  as  we  could  ob- 
tain here,  would  be  sufficient  to  feed,  clothe,  and 
educate  them.  1  asked  each  patron  to  select  either 
a  male  or  female  child,  to  whom  they  could,  if 
they  desired,  give  their  name,  sending  the  money 
to  Dr.  Durbin,  and  concluded  the  appeal  with  these 
words :] 

"  Here,  then,  I  close.     I  make  my  proposition  and 


254:  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

appeal  to  American  Methodists  on  behalf  of  the  little 
outcast  ones  of  tliose  misguided  and  cruel  men,  whose 
doom  may  be  sealed,  probably,  ere  this  letter  can 
reach  your  shores.  I  make  my  appeal  from  Delhi — 
from  this  late  head-quarters  of  hatred  and  cruelty 
against  Christ  and  liis  people — probably  from  the 
very  apartment  where  those  proclamations  were  con- 
cocted and  issued,  which  spread  for  a  time  such  hor- 
ror and  woe  over  these  fair  provinces. 

"  Bretliren  and  sisters,  help  us  to  save  those  poor 
little  ones.  If  you  take  them,  you  will  think  about 
them ;  if  you  pay  for  them,  you  will  certainly  jpray 
for  them.  God  will  own  and  honor  your  deed  of 
Christian  mercy,  and,  at  a  future  day,  in  many  a  de- 
lightful instance,  when  they  are  converted  and  happy, 
will  *  the  blessing  of  those  now  ready  to  perish  come 
upon  you.'  In  hope  of  a  generous  and  prompt  re- 
sponse, I  remain,  dear  brethren  and  sisters, 
"  Yours  affectionately, 

William  Butler." 

Next  day  I  wrote  another  letter  to  Dr.  Durbin, 
earnestly  pleading  for  his  sympathy  and  that  of  the 
Missionary  Board.  I  informed  him,  as  another  evi- 
dence of  "  the  good  hand  of  God  over  us  for  good," 
that  I  had  just  found  H.  S.  Eeid,  Esq.,  Director  of 
Public  Instruction  (Minister  of  Education  for  the 
North-west  Provinces),  to  whom  I  had  a  note  of  in- 
troduction   from   his    father-in-law   (the    general   at 


From  Bo8ton  to  Baeeilly.  255 

whose  place  I  had  preached  on  our  way  down).  It 
was  very  providential  that  he  sliould  then  be  in 
Delhi,  for,  next  to  our  Church  and  the  Board,  he 
could  help  me  most  in  the  enterprise  which  was  now 
80  near  my  heart.  To  my  great  encouragement  he 
received  me  most  cordially,  and  listened  to  my  entire 
plan.  He  was  kind  enough  to  give  it  his  full  sym- 
pathy, and  promised  me  the  good-will  and  assistance 
of  the  government,  under  the  new  rules  which  had 
just  been  inaugurated  in  the  form  of  Grants  in  Aid 
for  Education. 

3.  I  inquired  what  these  rules  w^ere,  and  then  learned 
about  that  second  link  which  a  merciful  Providence 
was  preparing  for  our  help  in  the  work  contemplated. 
The  English  government  had  formulated  a  code  of 
education  for  India,  under  the  designation,  "  Sir 
Charles  Wood's  Dispatch  on  Education,"  which  now 
became  law  ;  and  under  it  all  who  would  educate 
should  have  "  grants  in  aid,"  about  fifty  per  cent,  of 
the  whole  expense.  It  was  to  be  alike  available  for 
both  sexes,  and  would  not  interfere  with  the  right  of 
religious  instruction  in  any  school  thus  aided.  What 
help  was  here  for  us !  Our  good  friend  promised 
liis  utmost  assistance.  I  laid  the  facts  before  the 
Board,  and  closed  with  these  words :  "  The  cost  for 
each  orphan,  including  every  thing,  will  be  only  $25 
a  year.  $1,000  annually  will,  therefore,  sustain  forty 
of  them.  I  ask  that  much  from  the  Board,  and  let 
individual  liberality  add  as  many  more  as  possible. 


256  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

Shall  I  have  this  thousand  dollars  annually  ?  Be- 
lieve me.  we  may  expect  that  God  will  amply  repay 
to  our  society,  in  converted,  intelligent  teachers  and 
preachers,  the  sum  which  I  now  earnestly  entreat  you 
to  grant,  that  we  may  save  these  perishing  children. 
Do  let  me  have  your  reply  as  speedily  as  possible. 
No  part  of  our  work  will  be  more  interesting  and 
hopeful  than  this.  I  long  for  the  time  when  we  shall 
have  tliese  little  ones  under  our  care  and  instruction, 
and  trust  that  I  shall  live  to  see  many  of  them  con- 
verted and  rejoicing  in  God." 

I  anxiously  awaited  the  answer,  and  it  came  almost 
by  return  of  mail,  granting  all  I  asked,  if  the  breth- 
ren who  were  to  join  me  within  a  few  weeks,  meeting 
together  as  a  mission,  should  concur  in  the  proposal, 
which,  of  course,  they  did.  We  thus  stood  prepared 
for  the  future,  and  were  ready  to  act  when  the  hour 
came.  A  few  days  afterward  another  providence 
cheered  me.  I  met  our  dear  friend,  Major  (now  Gen- 
eral) Gowan,  he  who  had  so  earnestly  warned  us  to 
fly  from  Bareilly.  On  informing  him  of  my  plans, 
he  surprised  me  by  saying  he  had  the  first  orphan 
boy  ready  for  me,  a  fine  lad  (son  of  a  Sepoy  oflScer) 
whom,  a  few  days  before,  he  had  found  on  the  field 
of  battle,  in  great  distress  for  his  father,  who  had 
been  killed  that  day.  The  benevolent  major  tried  to 
comfort  the  poor  boy,  and  promised  to  be  a  father  to 
him.  He  brought  him  to  his  tent,  and  from  that  on 
to  Meerut,  where  I  met  them.     He  handed  him  over 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  257 

to  me,  promising  to  be  at  the  entire  cost  of  his  train- 
ing and  education.  I  was  to  give  him  the  major's 
own  name.  He  sent  me  another  boy  soon  after  (now 
an  ordained  elder  in  our  Conference),  and  provided 
for  both.  He  lias  given  so  liberally  of  his  means  to 
build  up  our  mission  since,  that,  probably,  no  one,  on 
either  side  of  the  Atlantic,  has  been  so  generous  to  our 
work  as  this  devoted  Christian  gentleman  has  been. 
So  wonderfully  did  God  and  his  people  aid  us  in  this 
enterprise.  What  it  has  already  accomplished  for  our 
work  in  India  we  shall  learn  when  we  reach  Bareilly 
and  Shahjehanpore,  where  the  orphanages  are  located  ; 
and  especially  the  Girls'  Orphanage  at  Bareilly,  which 
has  done  so  much  to  build  up  the  work  of  the  Parent 
Board,  and  gives  to  our  mission  in  IS'orth  India  a 
standing  and  power  that  is  not  equaled  to-day  by 
any  mission  of  its  age  in  the  East. 

As  I  stood  last  year  in  old  Delhi,  and  lived  these 
scenes  over  again,  after  an  interval  of  twenty-seven 
years  since  the  day  when  I  wrote  that  letter  in  the 
Dewanee-Kliass,  how  vividly  it  all  came  back  to  me ! 
How  clearly  the  hand  of  God  was  seen  in  the  results 
since  accomplished  !  Poor  old  Delhi  itself  is  terribly 
changed  for  the  worse  since  then.  The  Chandnee 
Chowk,  once  so  rich  and  splendid,  is  shorn  of  its 
glory,  and  now  presents  a  beggarly  aspect.  The 
Jumna  Musjid,  the  great  Mohammedan  "Cathedral" 
of  the  East,  shares  the  general  decay — the  worshipers 

were  few,  and  the  entrance  was  occupied  by  some  of 
17 


258  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

the  most  loathsome  lepers  I  ever  beheld.  One  of 
them  was  so  unutterably  repulsive,  I  wondered  the 
police  did  not  shut  him  up  from  human  view.  The 
poor  lad  might  be  about  sixteen  years  of  age.  His 
body  w^as  covered  with  this  awful  disease ;  his  face 
having  a  pink  tinge,  and  his  eyebrows  and  the  hair 
of  his  liead  were  as  "white  as  snow."  It  was  a  sick- 
ening sight ;  but  there  he  was  permitted  to  remain,  as 
an  object  of  charity,  on  the  steps  by  w^liich  the  wor- 
shipers went  up  to  their  devotions  in  that  decaying 
structure ! 

The  Dewanee-Khass,  the  superb  throne-room  of  the 
Great  Moguls,  stands  in  withering  splendor — a  gor- 
geous monument  which  the  lightnings  of  heaven 
have  blasted.  Instead  of  the  surroundings  in  w^iich 
it  formerly  stood,  remaining  a  suitable  setting  for  its 
magnificence,  the  Khass  is  now  dwarfed  by  the  great 
military  buildings  which  have  been  erected  close  to 
it.  Sad,  indeed,  was  the  ruin,  and  also  the  solitude, 
as  the  occasional  passer-by  went  on,  without  even 
turning  to  look  at  it.  The  famous  couplet  above,  on 
the  architrave,  quoted  by  Moore  in  Lalla  Rookh^ 

"  And,  0  !  if  there  be  an  elysium  on  earth, 
It  is  this,  it  is  this  ! " 

is  still  there,  a  mockery  amid  the  desolation  which  has 
engulfed  them  all,  showing  how  truly  "  their  glory, 
their  multitude,  and  their  pomp,"  and  he  that  rejoiced, 
have  descended  into  it;  while  the  holy  Christianity, 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  259 

on  the  destruction  of  which  thej  inadlj  staked  every 
thing,  holds  to-day  in  India  a  higher  position  than 
ever,  and  all  the  higher  for  their  overthrow ! 

We  went  over  to  Agra  to  see  once  more,  and  for 
the  last  time,  the  matchless  Taj  Mahal.  No  deterio- 
ration there !  It  looked  as  lovely  and  pure  as  ever. 
We  visited  it  in  the  morning  and  in  the  evening 
light,  and  again  at  midnight,  to  gaze  upon  it  under 
the  full  moon — a  different  aspect  being  presented  each 
time.  No  doubt  it  will  be  as  stainless  a  hundred 
years  hence  as  it  is  to-day.  It  is,  perhaps,  the  only 
monument  originated  by  the  Moguls  that  abides  in 
unimpaired  beauty  and  perfection.  All  the  rest — 
even  "the  Pearl  Mosque,"  not  far  from  it  —  are 
quietly  tending  to  decay.  'Tis  well  that  the  lovely 
Taj  was  not  in  any  way  identified  either  with  their 
cruel  and  licentious  creed  or  their  vicious  practice. 
Contrary  to  the  license  of  his  house,  and  the  liberty 
of  his  Koran,  Shah  Jehan,  its  builder,  chose  not  to 
be  a  polygamist. 

*'  He  loved  one  only,  and  was  true  to  her," 

and  thus  the  gifted  and  beautiful  Empress  Moomtaj^ 
who  lies  in  such  splendor  under  that  glorious  dome, 
had  no  competitor  in  the  affections  of  her  husband. 
This  matchless  gem,  the  architectural  wonder  of  the 
world,  is  considered  to  be  a  national  monument,  and 
will  be  preserved  unimpaired,  with  all  its  appropriate 
surroundings,  as  long  as  England  rules  India.    Coming 


260  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

out  toward  midnight,  and  taking  our  last  longing 
look  at  all  this  loveliness,  I  ventured  to  inquire  of  a 
lady,  whose  cultured  taste  I  knew  I  might  rely  upon, 
whether,  in  my  full  description  of  the  Taj^  given  in 
The  Land  of  the  Veda,  I  had  said  one  word  too  much 
in  its  favor.  With  great  emphasis  she  answered,  "O, 
no,  no ;  it  is  worthy  of  it  all."  The  New  Jerusalem 
will  certainly  be  more  lovely,  but  it  may  safely  be 
2)redicted  that,  up  to  the  hour  when  that  vision  of  di- 
vine beauty  "  whose  builder  and  maker  is  God  "  is 
seen  coming  down  out  of  heaven,  human  eyes  will 
never  look  upon  any  object  more  lovely  than  the  Taj 
Mahal  of  Agra. 

What  a  change  it  was,  to  return  again  from  this 
scene  to  Delhi !  There  is  something  very  distressing 
and  solemn  in  the  effect  which  the  view  of  this  Mogul 
desolation  exercises  upon  the  mind  of  the  thoughtful 
beholder.  It  seems  as  if  the  finger  of  God  pointed 
out  from  the  mystery  around,  and  said,  "  This  is  my 
retribution  to  my  enemies!"  One  feels  conscious  that 
no  human  hand  could  have  accomplished  it.  For 
long  centuries  this  great  system  was  supreme, — the 
most  powerful,  wealthy,  and  combined  of  Oriental 
sovereignties, — and  was  seated  in  the  center  of  all  nat- 
ural resources.  Yet  this  amazing  power  perished  from 
the  earth — perished,  not  of  want,  for  it  was  wealthy 
to  the  last ;  not  of  decay  of  population,  or  of  dry- 
ing up  of  resources — they  were  more  abundant  than 
ever ;  did  not  die  of  war — for  India  was  never  more 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  261 

peaceful  than  when  this  dynasty  drew  tlie  sword,  and 
wantonly  broke  that  tranquillity.  Why,  then,  did  it 
die  ?  As  the  worldling  calculates,  it  had  all  the  ele- 
ments of  mortal  life — ought  to  be  living  now — and 
living  on  for  a  thousand  years  to  come.  Yet,  it  is 
absolutely  dead !  One  is  tempted  to  ask,  with  indig- 
nation, some  of  those  sneering  infidels  who  can  talk 
or  wTite  human  history  without  recognizing  God, 
"  Gentlemen,  here  is  a  wonderful  case  for  investiga- 
tion ;  it  lies  there  before  you,  dead  from  some  cause ; 
please  account  for  that  dissolution,  and  tell  the  world 
in  your  wisdom  how  this  ghastly  death  came ;  exam- 
ine thoroughly,  and  make  out  an  honest  verdict  that 
mankind  can  believe.  We  give  you  ample  time  and 
unrestricted  opportunity,  and  await  your  reply." 

We  may  wait,  but  it  will  be  in  vain.  These  un- 
candid  and  prejudiced  men  will  not  be  honest  where 
God  is  concerned.  Sooner  than  admit  His  interven- 
tion and  government  they  will  slink  away  uncom- 
mitted, or  else,  by  some  subterfuge  or  contemptible 
witticism,  try  to  cover  their  escape  from  the  obli- 
gation of  an  honest  reply  wliich  would  satisfy  the 
judgment  of  candid  men.  Even  the  heathen  magi- 
cians of  Pharaoh's  court  had  far  more  candor,  and 
yielded  to  the  logic  of  the  facts;  giving  their  de- 
cision in  tlie  case  submitted  to  them :  "  This  is  the 
finger  of  God."  But  over  the  prostrate  form  of  this 
Oriental  dynasty  enlightened  Christian  philosophy 
can  hold  its  inquest,  and  witli  full  reasons,  founded  in 


2G2  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

the  divine  wisdom  in  history,  render  its  verdict  that, 
"  It  died  by  the  visitation  of  GodP  There  are  some 
things  that  enter  into  the  life  of  a  dynasty,  or  a  peo- 
ple, to  raise  it  to  permanence.  The  most  important 
is  the  "  righteousness  which  exalteth  a  nation."  The 
absence  of  this  fully  accounts  for  the  death  we  are 
considering — and  there  never  was  more  terrible  evi- 
dence furnished  to  the  w^orld  than  their  history  con- 
tains, that  "the  iniquity  of  these"  Amorites — from 
the  king  on  his  throne  to  tlie  Sodomite  in  his  den — 
became  so  "  full,"  that  "  they  -perished  in  their  own 
corruption  "  under  the  awful  judgment  of  a  just  and 
holy  God ! 

The  ruin  thus  called  down  upon  themselves  is  even 
more  terrible  in  its  manifestation  than  what  I  have 
yet  mentioned.  One  item  more  of  it  may  be  allowed. 
Perhaps  nowhere  else  on  this  globe  can  such  a  sight 
be  seen  as  that  which  the  traveler  beholds  strewn  all 
around  him,  going  from  Delhi  to  the  Kootub.  In 
the  days  gone  by  tliose  fourteen  miles  were  dotted 
over  with  the  splendid  palaces,  mosques,  mausoleums, 
and  memorials  of  the  imperial  house  and  its  wealthy 
aristocracy.  Here  were  the  "  Versailles  "  and  "  Al- 
hambras"  of  Oriental  Mohammedanism.  The  Kootub 
— the  grandest  column  in  the  w^orld — rose  peerless  in 
the  center  of  all  this  magnificence.  The  Kootub  still 
stands  there.  Go  to  its  summit,  and  survey  the  scene 
around.  You  never  saw  such  silent  and  naked  deso- 
lation as  that  circle  of  twenty  miles  presents  to  your 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  263 

view.  All  is  solitude  and  ruins,  amid  which  the 
liowls  of  the  hungry  jackals  and  the  prowling  wolves 
are  heard  incessantly, from  early  night-fall  to  the  break 
of  day.  Yet  here,  within  this  one  view,  hundreds  of 
millions  of  the  wealth  of  poor  India's  toiling  people 
have  been  wasted  on  extravagances  that  yield  not  one 
cent  of  beneficial  result  to-day.  All  sunk  in  profit- 
less enterprises  of  pride  and  vainglory,  on  which  has 
come  down  a  retribution  that  must  be  divine,  smiting 
the  whole  with  blasting  and  desolation  beyond  all 
hope  of  restoration.  Not  one  of  the  multitude  of 
these  once  magnificent  buildings  remains  perfect  in 
form.  There  they  are,  struck  and  mutilated,  as  if  in 
literal  fulfillment  of  the  threatenino;  of  the  Son  of 
God  :  "He  shall  rule  them  with  a  rod  of  iron  ;  as  the 
vessels  of  a  potter  shall  they  be  broken  to  sliivers: 
even  as  I  received  of  my  Father."  Rev.  ii.  27.  Here 
we  can  find  an  adequate  cause  for  tliis  dreadful  deso- 
lation. This  Oriental  sovereignty  identified  itself, 
body  and  soul,  with  the  creed,  the  spirit  and  purpose, 
of  "The  False  Prophet,"  till  at  length  He,  whose 
warning  vengeance  liad  already  expressed  itself,  heard 
the  rampant  blasphemy  uttered  here  against  the  Re- 
deemer and  Governor  of  the  world,  and  saw  the  un- 
exampled butchery  of  more  than  eighteen  hundred  of 
his  people,  within  that  circumference  of  which  Delhi 
was  the  center.  "  Then  God  arose,"  and  that  "  rod 
of  iron  "  descended  with  discriminating  vengeance, 
and  struck    the  dynasty,   and   all   confederate   with 


20  i  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

it,  out  of  existence  forever.  And  this  is  the 
result ! 

You  turn  from  the  fearful  scene,  but  carry  away  in 
your  soul  the  reflection  tliat  what  you  have  witnessed 
is  no  freak  of  nature,  no  accidental  desolation,  no  slow 
growth  of  national  decline.  It  is  the  result  of  some 
adequate  cause.  The  wideness  of  the  ruin  intimates 
a  penalty.  The  extent  and  completeness  of  the 
calamity,  admitting  of  no  redemption,  evidences  that 
tin's  is  not  man's  work,  but  Heaven's  vengeance ;  and 
the  fearful  record  of  guilt  which  preceded  it,  shuts 
you  up  to  the  conviction  tliat  what  you  have  seen  are 
''  the  wages  of  sin,"  which  a  holy  God  begins  to  pay 
out,  even  in  this  world,  upon  the  body,  the  soul,  the 
surroundings  and  circumstances  of  those  who  dare 
defy  his  laws.  Little  does  it  avail,  in  any  age  or  in 
any  land,  that  licentious  sinners  close  their  ears  and 
decline  to  hear,  or  even  that  they  choose  to  scoff  at 
human  and  divine  warnings.  As  sure  as  the  sunrise 
their  sins  will  find  them  out ;  and  some  day,  when 
mercy  is  clear  gone,  they  will  have  to  w^ake  up,  as 
these  have  done,  to  the  terrible  consciousness  that  "God 
is  not  mocked :  for  w^hatsoever  a  man  soweth,  that 
shall  he  also  reap."  This  fearful  retribution,  falling 
as  heavily  on  the  locality  as  it  did  on  the  individuals 
there,  reminds  one  of  the  doom  of  the  sensualists  of 
Sodom  and  Gomorrah,  who  "  are  set  forth  for  an  ex- 
ample, suffering  the  vengeance  of  eternal  fire." 

That  magnificent  Taj,  a  few  miles  off  to  the  south, 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  265 

standing  so  cLaste  and  lovely  in  its  earthly  paradise, 
makes  tliis  blight,  by  contrast,  all  the  more  fearful. 
There  is  woman  honored,  the  seventh  commandment 
obeyed,  and  the  Taj  is  the  monument  of  the  virtue 
wliich  God  has  crowned.  Here  is  the  reverse. 
Woman  wronged,  the  seventh  commandment  out- 
raged in  its  entire  spirit  and  purpose,  while  old  Delhi 
lies  scorched  under  divine  vengeance.  "It  is  a  fear- 
ful thing  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the  living  God." 

Wicked  men  in  high  and  low  life  may  sneer  at  these 
lessons,  and  at  the  doctrine  of  the  Second  Psalm,  as 
having  little  to  do  with  national  life  and  accounta- 
bility ;  yet  this  humble  page  may  liv^e  long  enough 
to  illustrate  the  Cliristian  conviction  that  there  is  no 
fact  of  the  coming  future  more  certain  than  that  every 
remaining  organized  portion  of  this  "  mystery  of  in- 
iquity," wherever  found  (in  Utah,  in  Turkey,  or  else- 
where), which  dishonors  woman  and  insults  the  Lord 
Christ  and  his  holy  law,  shall  as  surely  meet  their  day 
of  accountability  as  these  crowned  and  powerful  ene- 
mies of  both  did  in  India  in  1857-8,  when  that  burn- 
ins:  indio^nation  left  them  "  neither  root  nor  branch." 

4.  Before  we  depart  from  this  city  of  Delhi,  I  wish 
to  ask  attention  to  a  group  of  facts  such  as  my  read- 
ers may  lind  it  difficult  to  parallel  in  the  range  of  hu- 
man history  for  hostility  to  Christianity,  and  for  the 
condign  punishment  with  which  the  Almighty  visited 
the  guilt  and  overthrew  the  purposes  of  their  origi- 
nators.   This  court  had  relation  to  every  one  of  them  ; 


266  Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

tliey  have  all  occurred  in  our  own  day  ;  and  tlie  very 
existence  of  our  mission  was  involved  in  the  results. 
What  makes  it  more  marked  is,  that  the  punishment 
bore  just  proportion  to  the  transgression.  Where  that 
guilt  included  the  shedding  of  Christian  blood,  the 
vengeance  was  heaviest  and  most  marked,  amounting, 
in  such  cases,  to  the  annihilation  of  each  party,  and 
the  complete  extinguishment  of  their  power  and  in- 
fluence in  India  ;  and  also  in  so  counter- working  their 
purposes  that  their  very  wrath  was  made  to  ])raise 
God  and  advance  his  cause. 

Five  names  were,  a  short  time  ago,  among  the  most 
prominent  in  India  for  wealth,  power,  and  opposition 
to  the  religion  of  the  Son  of  God.  One  was  a  Na- 
wab,  another  a  King,  another  a  Peishwa,  another  an 
Emperor,  and  the  fiftli  a  Maharajah.  Only  one  of 
these  is  living,  and  this  he  owes  entirely  to  the  fact 
that  the  English  removed  him  in  time  out  of  the  way 
of  the  danger  which  swept  all  the  rest  and  their  power 
away  forever. 

The  Xawab,  Khan  Bahadur,  stood  nearest  to  us, 
being  a  resident  at  Bareilly,  where  he  was  deputy 
judge.  His  hypocrisy  was  equal  to  his  cruelty. 
While  he  was  trying  to  throw  the  English  ofiicers 
off  their  guard,  with  the  assurance  that  the  Sepoys 
there  would  not  rise — and  that,  even  if  they  did,  no 
harm  should  come  to  us,  as  he  would  protect  us — he 
had  in  his  pocket,  from  the  Emperor  of  Delhi,  the 
sunnud   (or    patent)   constituting    him     Nawab    of 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  267 

Eohilcund.  Yet,  on  the  31st  of  May,  when  the 
mutiny  broke  out,  he  arrested  and  hanged  fifteen  of 
the  English  gentlemen  on  a  gallows  at  the  Kat- 
walee  of  Bareilly,  including  his  own  superior  officer, 
Judge  Eobertson.  By  this  cruel  man,  myself,  wife, 
and  children  were  condenmed  to  suffer  the  same 
fate.  How  we  escaped  out  of  his  hands  is  narrated 
elsewhere.  But  how  wonderful  it  was  that  I  should 
be  brought  round  to  Bareilly  from  Dellii,  some  time 
after,  to  see  him  a  prisoner,  and  witness  his  trial 
and  condemnation.  That,  in  company  with  Brother 
Humphrey,  I  should  visit  him  in  prison,  and  urge 
upon  him  the  acceptance  of  the  mercy  which  even 
a  penitent  murderer  might  obtain  from  the  merciful 
Saviour.  But  all  in  vain.  He  hated  the  very  name 
of  Jesus.  I  saw  him  taken  to  his  death  (on  tfiC  spot 
wliere  he  executed  the  Christians  three  years  before) 
exulting  that  he  had  "  had  the  satisfaction  of  killing 
the  Christian  dogs,  and  would  kill  as  many  more 
again  if  he  only  had  the  power ! "  Such  was  the 
Nawab  of  Bohilcund,  and  these  were  his  last  words 
on  earth.  But  of  what  avail  was  all  his  blasphemy 
and  rage  and  cruelty  against  Christ  and  Christians  ! 
Divine  justice  swept  him  from  the  earth,  and  made 
his  doom  such  a  warning  to  his  co-religionists  that 
those  fanatics  have  trembled  under  the  lesson,  and  a 
divine  protection  has  been  thrown  over  the  lives  of 
the  followers  of  Christ — native  and  foreign,  male  and 
female — such  as  India  never  saw  before. 


268  Fkom  Boston  to  Eareilly. 

The  next  consjDicuous  name  is  that  of  the  Moham- 
medan King  of  Oude.  His  antecedents,  and  espe- 
cially his  hatred  of  Christianity,  show  that,  had  he 
remained  in  power,  he  would  probably  have  united 
hii  energies  with  his  neighbor.  Khan  Bahadur,  and 
the  two  could,  no  doubt,  have  swept  out  of  the  Gan 
getic  valley  every  vestige  of  Christian  life  or  influ- 
ence. In  this  case  Lucknow  might  never  have  been 
"relieved,"  the  Residency  have  shared  the  fate  of 
Cawnpore,  and  their  common  master,  the  Emperor 
of  Delhi,  have  been  sustained.  One  trembles  at  the 
idea  of  what  this  would  have  involved  to  Christianity 
and  English  rule ;  what  thousands  would  have  been 
added  to  the  eighteen  hundred  victims  of  Mohammed- 
an cruelty,  or  the  long  years  of  conflict  and  suffer- 
ing requisite  to  recover  the  ground  which  civiliza- 
tion and  Christianity  had  lost.  It  would  have  given 
Mohammedanism  a  distinct  and  terrible  victory  over 
Christianity,  with  a  greater  power  than  ever  in  India, 
and  placed  the  two  hundred  millions  of  Hindus 
more  completely  at  their  mercy,  without  any  control 
to  appeal  to  for  protection  against  them.  There 
has  lately  appeared  a  volume,  by  an  English  civil 
officer  {The  Garden  of  India ^  by  H.  C.  Irwin),  which 
justifies,  to  my  mind,  the  fear  that  no  other  result 
could  be  expected,  had  this  corrupt  government  of 
the  king  continued  only  one  year  longer.  But  the 
"  annexation  "  of  Oude  to  British  territory,  and  the 
removal  of  the  king  to  Calcutta,  on   the  pension  of 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  269 

liis  rank,  in  the  spring  of  1856,  was  just  in  time  to 
save  him  from  committing  himself  id  the  cause  of 
the  Delhi  emperor.  His  hands  were  thus  kept 
from  being  stained  with  Christian  blood;  and  so, 
instead  of  filling  a  criminal's  grave  to-day,  after 
inflicting  fearful  injury,  he  lives,  and  has  his  title 
and  his  pay,  but  still  following  that  foolish  and  sin- 
ful life  so  graphically  described  by  his  American 
secretary,  formerly  referred  to. 

The  third  personage  is  the  Peishwa,  Nana  Sahib. 
This  matchless  monster  (whose  fearful  career  I  have 
presented  in  The  Land  of  the  Veda)  aimed  to 
combine  all  the  influence  of  his  peculiar  position, 
with  the  objects  of  the  emperor,  in  the  overthrow  of 
Christianity.  His  proclamations  and  massacres,  in 
carrying  out  his  purposes,  show  what  he  was  capable 
of  doing  had  they  only  succeeded.  But  that  "  good 
soldier  of  Jesus  Christ,"  Henry  Havelock,  met  and 
overthrew  this  cruel  pagan,  drove  him  into  Eohil- 
cund,  where  he  made  his  last  stand  at  Bareilly,  aiding 
Khan  Bahadur,  and  where  Havelock's  men,  following 
him  up,  had  another  dash  at  him.  His  forces  fled, 
and  he  w^ent  rushing  through  Philibeet  into  the 
depths  of  the  Oude  forest,  never  to  be  seen  again  by 
mortal  eye.  There  that  murderer  of  Christian 
women  and  children  met  his  fate  in  one  of  the 
ravines  under  Nepaul.  Probably  the  "Koyal  Bengal 
Tigers,"  which  abound  in  that  vicinity,  closed  the 
career  of  this  wretched  man.      Only  this  form  of 


270  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

deatli  was  likely  there,  and  no  doom  could  be  more 
dreadful.  We  can  imagine  him,  as  he  there  reached 
his  last  hour ;  all  hope  and  help  gone,  alone  in  the 
dreadful  Terai,  crouching  by  his  last  iire,  which  he  is 
no  longer  able  to  replenish,  while  the  watching  and 
impatient  brute  that  has  tracked  him  draws  nearer, 
till,  in  full  sight  now,  with  their  terrific  roar  and  sure 
spring,  he  seizes  the  pampered  maharajah  of  Bithoor 
as  his  prey  !  The  Nana  earned  and  received  the  title 
of  "The  Tiger  of  Bithoor,*'  and  if  the  above  intima- 
tions were  realized  (as  seems  probable),  he  might  well 
say  in  the  awful  hour  to  which  he  was  brought,  as 
was  said  by  Adoni-bezek,  "  As  I  have  done,  so  God 
has  requited  me !  " 

The  judgment  of  the  Emperor  was  next  in  order. 
He  was  tried,  and,  after  a  j)atient  investigation,  found 
guilty  of  all  the  charges,  and  was  sentenced  (not  to 
death,  on  account  of  his  rank)  but,  to  transportation 
for  life.  It  was  a  fearful  penalty  to  pass  from  a  throne 
to  the  deck  of  a  convict  ship,  to  close  his  life  in  a  for- 
eign land.  Burmah  was  chosen  as  the  place.  There 
he  died  in  1861.  Five  years  after  witnessing  his  trial 
I  visited  his  l-onely  grave  behind  the  Quarter  Guard 
of  the  British  regiment  at  Hangoon — within  "  The 
Golden  Chersonese  "  of  Ptolemy,  quoted  from  Milton 
on  my  title-page  —  and  saw  how  the  tropical  rains 
were  leveling  down  to  obliteration  the  little  mound, 
unmarked  by  a  single  stone,  which  covered  the  dis- 
honored dust  of  this  imperial  blasphemer  of  the  Son 


From  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  271 

of  God  and  persecutor  of  his  people !  The  only  one 
of  his  race  without  a  gorgeous  monument  over  liim. 
But  no  Taj  or  Mausoleum  will  ever  rise  above  the 
spot  where  rests,  solitary  and  alone,  on  a  foreign  shore 
and  in  a  felon's  grave,  the  last  descendant  of  the 
Great  Moguls!  In  such  a  scene,  and  with  all  its 
terrible  recollections  around  me,  how  appropriate 
seemed  the  words,  "  So  let  all  thine  enemies  perish, 
O  Lord :  but  let  them  that  love  him  be  as  the  sun 
when  he  goeth  forth  in  his  might ! " 

The  fifth,  in  this  group  of  enemies  of  the  divine 
Redeemer,  was  the  Maharajah  Runjeet  Singh,  sov- 
ereign of  the  Punjab.  This  turbulent  adventurer, 
who  had  carved  out  with  his  sword  the  empire  of  the 
-Q.VG  rivers  (as  the  word  Punjab  means)  by  making 
war  on  his. weaker  neio:libors,  and  then  annexino^  their 
dominions,  was  as  unscrupulous  and  despotic  a  char- 
acter as  can  be  found  even  in  India  history.  At  the 
age  of  seventeen  he  had  his  own  mother  assassinated, 
as  she  stood  in  the  way  of  his  ambition.  "  Lahore  of 
Great  Mogul "  he  seized  and  made  liis  capital,  and 
then  annexed  Cashmere  and  several  surrounding^ 
States.  He  thus  artfully,  yet  with  great  tact,  built 
himself  up  at  the  expense  of  both  emperor  and  the 
chiefs  around  him,  and  became  so  powerful  that  all 
feared  him. 

Circumstances  soon  afterward  brought  the  Delhi 
emperor.  Shah  Shooja,  across  the  boundary  into  Run- 
jeet  Singh's  dominions ;  and,  suspecting  no  treachery, 


272  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

lie  had  brought  his  family  and  part  of  his  treasure 
with  him.  They  were  affably  received,  a  palace 
placed  at  their  service,  and  royal  hospitality  tendered. 
In  a  day  or  two  Runjeet  learned  that  the  imperial 
family  liad  the  famous  Koh-i-7ioor  diamond  with 
them.  At  once  his  cupidity  was  aroused  and  his 
measures  taken  ;  the  palace  was  surrounded  by  his 
guards,  and  the  unfortunate  emperor  was  coolly  told 
that  as  soon  as  the  diamond  was  surrendered  to  Eun- 
jeet  their  meals  would  be  served,  but  not  one  morsel 
till  that  was  done !  Thev  held  out  till  the  morninoj 
of  the  third  day,  when  some  of  the  ladies  were  at  the 
point  of  death,  ere  the  gem  was  given  up.  It  thus 
became  tlie  possession  of  "  the  Lion  of  the  Punjab," 
as  Runjeet  was  then  called.  He  had  lost  one  eye  in 
battle,  and  his  fancy  was,  on  state  occasions,  to  bal- 
ance the  good  eye  by  the  brilliant  diamond  on  the 
other  side  of  his  brow,  and  thus  presented  a  whimsi- 
cal and  ogrsish  aspect,  that  amazed  those  who  looked 
at  him.  He  was  utterly  ignorant — could  neither  read 
nor  write — and  was  as  intolerant  and  bigoted  as  he 
was  illiterate.  He  was  sustained  in  his  despotism  by 
a  European  adviser,  who  has  a  heavy  account  to  ren- 
der before  God.  Their  resolution  was  formed  that, 
whoever  entered  the  Punjab,  Jesus  Christ  should 
not !  An  oath  is  said  to  have  been  sworn  that  "  no 
missionary  should  ever  cross  the  Sutlej  " — the  eastern 
boundary  line  between  Runjeet's  dominions  and  the 
English  territory.     So  determined  was  the  old  sinner 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  273 

that  the  recent  measures  passed  by  the  British  govern- 
or-general, Lord  William  Bentinck,  for  the  suppi'es- 
sion  of  suttee,  should  be  treated  with  contempt  so  far 
as  he  was  concerned,  that  he  made  express  provision 
in  his  will  that  the  ancient  custom  should  be  fully 
and  ostentatiously  observed  and  carried  out  in  con- 
nection with  his  own  funeral  ceremonies.  I  have  tlie 
description  of  the  fearful  scene  from  the  pen  of  a 
German  gentleman  who  was  physician  to  Runjeet 
Singh,  and  witnessed  the  entire  ceremony.  TJie  doc- 
tor says  that  the  suttee  was  conducted  on  such  a  scale 
of  magnificence  as  to  cost  several  hundred  thousand 
dollars.  The  maharajah  had  named  eleven  of  his 
wives  (four  queens  and  seven  concubines)  who  were 
to  burn  with  his  body,  the  youngest  being  only  fif- 
teen years  of  age ! 

I  need  not  give  the  dreadful  details  of  this  pro- 
gramme, which  was  strictly  carried  out.  If  Hunjeet 
Singli  died  with  the  ho]3e  that  his  "high  example" 
would  tend  to  the  restoration  of  this  infernal  practice 
of  burning  living  women  with  their  husband's  dead 
bodies,  he  never  made  a  greater  mistake.  God  had 
something  to  say  and  do  in  tliis  matter,  and  his  "  set 
time  had  come"  to  do  it.  lie  withdrew  his  restrain- 
ing providence  from  the  successors  of  this  wicked 
man,  and  in  nine  years  they  had  rushed  on  to  their 
own  destruction.  India  looked  across  the  Sutlej,  and 
saw  a  scene  of  carnage  and  destruction  in  the  Punjab 

the  equal  of  which  has  seldom  been  witnessed  among 
18 


274  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

men.  The  four  successors  of  Kunjeet — Kurruck 
Singh,  Noa  I^ihal  Singh,  Sheir  Singh,  and  Protal — • 
were  each  murdered  within  a  few  months  of  ascend- 
ing the  throne.  The  queen  regent,  Clmnd  Kunwar, 
was  also  assassinated.  The  four  prime  ministers — 
Dhyan  Singh,  Gulal  Singh,  Jawahir  Singh,  and  Ilira 
Singh — were  all  murdered  in  succession,  and  while  in 
office !  In  the  greatness  of  their  folly  the  Sikhs 
twice  crossed  the  Sutlej  to  invade  British  India.  The 
iirst  time  thej  were  whipped  back  again ;  but,  on  the 
second  occasion,  the  decisive  victory  of  Gujarat,  on 
the  21st  of  February,  1849,  overthrew  tlie  Sikhs, 
abolished  their  mad  government,  and  the  Punjab  was 
permanently  annexed  to  British  India.  Then  came 
a  peace  which  has  never  since  been  disturbed. 

The  little  boy  sovereign,  Dhuleep  Singh,  the  last 
child  of  Runjeet  Singli  (then  nine  years  old),  was 
taken  under  British  protection,  and  intrusted  for  edu- 
cation to  the  care  of  Sir  John  Logan,  of  Futtyghur 
(a  devout  Presbyterian  physician).  So  ended  an  em- 
pire that  was  founded  in  blood  and  rapine.  What 
became  of  that  "  oath  "  which  was  to  exclude  Chris- 
tianity from  Western  India,  and  that  "  royal  exam- 
ple" which  was  to  restore  the  horrors  of  the  suttee? 

Let  us  recognize  the  hand  of  God  in  this  history, 
also,  and  see  how  he  can  make  "  the  wrath  of  man  " 
to  praise  him,  and  restrain  the  remainder.  England 
is  in  India  for  higher  purposes  than  those  contem- 
plated by  such  of  her  representatives  as  do  not  "  fear 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  275 

God  and  work  righteousness."  But  her  "  devout 
men  "  there,  in  the  civil  and  military  services,  recog- 
nize the  higher  mission  that  she  has  to  fulHll,  and 
freely  give  their  influence  and  their  money  to  push 
forward  the  work  of  the  enlightenment  and  evangeli- 
zation of  the  millions  whom  they  govern.  While 
such  work  is  being  fostered  under  their  administra- 
tion God  will  take  care  of  British  rule  in  India,  for, 
whatever  its  faults  and  failings,  it  is  fultilling  his 
own  blessed  purposes.  Now  for  the  lessons  in  this 
ease. 

Had  Kunjeet  Singh  been  permitted  to  live  to 
carry  out"  his  intentions,  or  the  Sikh  nation  retained 
autonomy  eight  years  longer  than  1849,  where  would 
British  India  be  to-day  ?  There  can  hardly  be  a 
doubt  but  that,  in  1857,  the  Sikhs  would  have  joined 
the  Delhi  emperor,  and  their  aid  would  have  been 
ample,  united  with  the  Sepoy  army  and  directed  by 
the  Mohammedan  power,  to  sweep  Christianity  from 
India  before  a  soldier  from  England  could  reach  the 
country.  This  is  what  might  have  been,  and  proba- 
bly would  have  been,  except  for  the  Divine  foresight 
and  intervention.  Instead  of  this  result  Providence 
arranged  for  the  annexation  of  the  Punjab,  and  the 
neutralization  of  all  their  power  for  evil.  And  more, 
God  had  his  chosen  instruments  ready  for  the  emer- 
gency. John  Lawrence  was  installed  in  power  as 
the  ruler  of  the  Sikh  nation,  and  such  was  the  be- 
nign effect  of  his  Christian  administration  over  even 


276  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

that  turbulent  race,  that,  at  the  end  of  seven  years, 
when  the  Sepoys  rose  in  1857,  instead  of  joining 
them,  the  Sikhs  responded  to  Lawrence's  call,  and 
went  by  the  thousand  to  Delhi,  ranging  themselves  by 
the  side  of  the  little  English  force  of  five  thousand 
men,  and  helping  them  to  take  that  strong  city  in 
September,  even  before  one  British  regiment  had 
time  to  reach  Delhi  from  England. 

Nor  is  this  all.  How  different  now  would  be  the 
tenure  of  British  authority  in  India  had  not  tlie  Pun- 
jab been  annexed,  and  its  brave  people  won  to  Christian 
rule !  If  the  narrow  Sutlej  were  to-day  the  British 
frontier  against  Russian  aggression  instead  of  Afghan- 
istan and  the  Khyber  Pass,  what  solicitude  and 
even  fear  would  trouble  the  souls  of  the  rulers  of 
India !  But  the  annexation  of  1849  carried  back 
that  frontier  three  hundred  miles  west.  Had  not 
this  been  done,  with  Cabul  conquered,  the  Punjab 
captured,  and  the  armies  of  the  Russian  autocrat  ad- 
vanced three  hundred  miles  into  the  Indus  valley  ere 
touching  British  territory,  how  different  would  be 
the  situation  from  what  it  is  to-day,  when  the  tallest 
mountains  on  the  earth,  and  the  narrow  and  easily  de- 
fended Khyber  Pass,  shut  out  so  effectually  the  only 
foe  which  England  needs  to  fear  in  the  East ! 

Again,  instead  of  suttee  being  restored  by  the 
example  of  tlie  maharajah,  the  attempt  became  a 
horror,  and  the  native  principalities  ranged  them- 
selves ever  since  more  loyally  by  the  side  of  the  par- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  277 

amount  power  to  forbid  and  extinguish  this  crime 
forever  in  British  India. 

Of  course  the  Punjab,  under  Sir  John  Lawrence, 
was  thrown  open  to  Christianity.  What  high  ground 
he  took  upon  this  matter  his  w^ords  attest,  and  what 
honors  of  success  and  peace  did  the  Ahnighty  put 
upon  the  liead  of  this  grand,  God-fearing  ruler! 
Were  ever  words  uttered  more  worthy  of  a  Christian 
hero  than  those  which  Sir  John  Lawrence  wrote  at 
Lahore,  in  a  state  paper  issued  when  Delhi  fell? 
Those  w^ords  are : 

"  All  measures  which  are  really  and  truly  Chris- 
tian can  be  carried  out  in  India,  not  only  without 
danger  to  British  rule,  but,  on  the  contrary,  with  ev- 
ery advantage  to  its  stabiUty.  Christian  tilings  done 
in  a  Christian  way  will  never  alienate  the  heathen. 
About  such  things  there  are  qualities  which  do  not 
provoke  nor  excite  distrust,  nor  harden  to  resistance. 
It  is  when  unchristian  things  are  done  in  the  name 
of  Christianity,  or  when  Christian  things  are  done  in 
an  unchristian  way,  that  mischief  and  danger  are  oc- 
casioned. Measures  of  Christian  duty  will  arouse  no 
danger  —  will  conciliate  instead  of  provoke  —  and 
will  subserve  the  ultimate  diffusion  of  the  truth 
among  the  people." 

The  Sutlej  was  "  crossed "  by  Christian  mission- 
aries. Lahore  and  the  leading  cities  of  the  Punjab 
were  occupied,  chiefly  by  our  American  Presbyterian 
brethren,  and  success  soon  crowned  their  labors.     So 


2Y8  From  Boston  to  Eaeeilly. 

far  had  tliej  progressed  by  Christmas,  1862,  that 
the  J  invited  the  missionaries  of  North  India  to  hold 
their  General  Conference  with  them  in  the  capital  of 
the  Punjab.  We  went,  "  crossed  the  Sutlej,"  and 
entered  Lahore,  and,  to  our  surprise,  found  the  ar- 
rangements for  holding  the  Conference  were  made 
in  a  building  right  opposite  the  magnificent  mauso- 
leum where  repose  the  cremated  remains  of  Runjeet 
Singh  and  his  eleven  wives.  During  the  week  we 
went  over,  and,  standing  round  the  urn  under  the 
dome,  we  sung  cur  Christian  doxology  over  his  dust. 
In  the  photograph  group  of  that  Conference  the  cen- 
tral figure  is  the  Rajah  of  KuppurthuUa,  the  Punjab 
having  the  honor  of  furnishing  the  first  Christian 
prince  in  India.  By  his  side  stand  several  of  those 
English  soldiers  and  civilians  whose  prudence  and 
valor  saved  the  Punjab. 

Yet  all  tliis,  so  wonderful,  was  but  a  part  of  our 
divine  Saviour's  answer  to  Runjeet  Singli.  His  son, 
Dliuleep  Singh,  whom  he  never  saw  (for  the  child  was 
born  a  few  weeks  after  his  father's  cremation),  the 
last  and  only  heir  to  his  throne,  was  saved  from  the 
carnage  which  swept  away  all  the  rest  of  his  family. 
This  boy  grew  up,  in  circumstances  of  peace  and 
safety,  under  his  tutor,  Sir  John  Logan,  and  was  led 
by  the  reading  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  to  the  reception 
of  Christianity.  His  tutor  urged  him  not  to  press  for 
baptism  (as  he  earnestly  desired  when  but  seventeen 
years  old)  until  he  should  become  of  age,  and  could 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  279 

freely  judge  and  act  for  himself.  This  was  done,  and 
the  maharajah  came  ont  in  due  time  before  India, 
and  was  baptized  into  the  Clmstian  faith.  The  Koh- 
i-noor — his  by  inheritance  from  his  father — was  sent 
as  a  present  to  Queen  Yictoria,  and  he  himself  con- 
cluded to  live  in  England  on  the  pension  of  his  rank 
(made  sure  to  him  and  his  heirs  forever),  fixing  his 
home  in  a  beautiful  residence  at  Twickenham,  near 
London.  And,  further,  when  I  was  passing  through 
England  on  my  way  home  from  India,  in  March  last, 
I  went  out  to  attend  one  of  tlie  supplementary  meet- 
ings of  the  Moody  and  Sankey  services,  held  near 
the  residence  of  the  maharajah.  To  my  great  de- 
light, I  was  informed  that  some  of  the  family  had 
been  attending  these  services,  and  the  eldest  son  had 
experienced  the  saving  grace  of  God.  Unwilling  to 
trust  mere  rumor  in  such  a  case,  I  wrote  to  Dr.  Pen- 
tecost, who  was  assisting  Moody  and  Sankey,  and  re- 
ceived from  him  the  assurance  that  my  information 
was  correct ;  the  young  prince  had  been  converted, 
and  had  become  a  zealous  worker  in  the  meetings. 
He  knew  him  well,  and  assured  me  that  I  might  re- 
joice in  the  fact.  I  do  and  will  rejoice,  and  bow 
down  before  the  sovereign  majesty  of  our  divine  Re- 
deemer in  the  presence  of  tliis,  his  own  adorable  work. 
ISTot  only  the  son,  but  also  the  grandson  of  "  the  ma- 
harajah," Runjeet  Singh,  have  become  servants  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ ! 

To  me  all  this  reads  like  a  passage  from  some  un- 


280  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

eartlilj  volume — like  a  page  from  tliat  book  wliicli 
contains  tlie  hidden  mysteries  of  Almighty  God, 
^vhich  only  "  the  Lion  of  the  tribe  of  Judah "  is 
worthy  to  open  and  unseal.  He  opens  and  unseals 
them  for  the  liberation  and  redemption  of  our  race 
from  the  tyranny  of  evil  and  the  power  of  sin. 
India,  long  suffering  India,  is  to  realize  her  full  and 
perfect  portion  of  this  redemption,  and  is  to  have  her 
glad  share  in  that  grand  celestial  anthem  to  her  new 
Lord  and  Master :  "  They  sung  a  new  song,  saying, 
Thou  art  worthy  to  take  the  book,  and  to  open  the 
seals  thereof :  for  thou  wast  slain,  and  hast  redeemed 
us  to  God  by  thy  blood  out  of  every  kindred,  and 
tongue,  and  people,  and  nation."  Eev.  v,  9.  Amen, 
mighty  and  victorious  Christ !  Thou  art  worthy,  and 
tliese  are  thy  opening  triumphs  in  India;  and  tliey 
guarantee  to  thy  believing  and  exultant  saints  tJiine 
ultimate  victories  over  all  that  is  diabolical  and  sinful 
there. 

"  Hope  of  a  world  condemned,  Messiah,  hail ! 
Nor  hell,  nor  death,  shall  o'er  thy  Church  prevail ; 
Thy  conquering  arm  the  serpent  foe  shall  bind, 
Thy  blood  redeem,  thy  scepter  rule,  mankind." 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  281 


CHAPTER  YIL 

"  0  day  of  days  1  far  off  its  coming  shone, 

The  hope  of  ages  past;  0  joy  of  joys, 

To  see  it  come  at  length !  0  double  joy 

If  we  have  watched,  and  wept,  and  toiled,  and  prayed, 

'Mid  the  deep  darkness  of  the  night  of  tears, 

To  speed  the  advent  of  that  morn  of  joy 

Whose  sun,  once  risen,  shall  never  more  go  down, 

While  the  Lord  God  Omnipotent  doth  reign. 

And  the  great  ages  roll,  in  golden  calm. 

Through  the  high  Sabbath  of  eternity." — Dr.  Mitchell. 

We  are  back  again  in  Lucknow,  and  about  to  start 
for  Bareillj.  The  train  leaves  at  nine  o'clock  P.  M. 
Formerly  from  this  to  Bareilly  took  three  nights' 
traveling  by  palanquin.  Now  we  are  to  roll  over  the 
entire  space  in  six  hours.  Leaving  at  nine  P.  M.  we 
are  due  there  at  three  o'clock  in  the  morning. 

The  moon  is  at  her  best,  the  air  is  warm,  and  the 
atmosphere  clear — one  of  those  lovely  nights  in  Octo- 
ber not  often  seen  outside  of  India.  No  wonder  Mr. 
Irwin,  in  describing  this  valley,  entitles  his  book  The 
Garden  of  India.  Bishop  Foster  and  others  desig- 
nate it  in  the  same  way.  The  fertility  is  wonderful. 
Two  harvests  each  year  reward  the  toil  of  the  culti- 
vators ;  so  that,  although  the  farms  are  very  small,  we 
have  to  remember  the  compensation  which  this 
double  product  yields  to  the  cultivator. 


2S2  Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

Wide  plains,  mostly  without  a  rock  or  stone,  and 
tlie  soil  as  fria])le  as  though  pulverized.  It  has  been 
producing  ricli  crops  for  over  three  thousand  years, 
without  receiving  the  help  that,  in  our  colder  climes, 
is  considered  necessary  to  keep  land  in  condition. 
What  we  put  into  the  ground  to  fertilize  it  is  there 
reserved  for  fuel.  Cow-dung  mixed  with  straw,  and 
dried  in  the  sun,  forms  a  peat  that  is  sold  in  the  ba- 
zaars as  fuel  for  native  cooking.  Wood  is  too  scarce 
and  dear  for  burning,  nor  could  the  people  afford 
either  this  or  charcoaL  But,  for  less  than  one  cent, 
they  can  obtain  enough  of  the  above  peat  for  a  day's 
cooking.  So  it  is  the  universal  fuel,  and  the  land  has 
to  do  without  its  help.  In  fact,  water  and  sun  in 
India  seem  to  be  about  all  that  are  really  necessary. 
The  fructifying  effect  of  the  sun,  with  the  moisture, 
secures  the  harvest.  The  natural  rain-fall  produces 
the  first  and  heavier  harvest  of  sugar-cane,  corn,  to- 
bacco, arrowroot,  etc ;  while  artificial  irrigation 
(water  being  plenty  and  easily  obtained)  yields  the 
second  harvest,  which  includes  cotton,  wheat,  dal, 
barley,  rice,  and  the  smaller  grains  generally.  The 
results  are  accomplished  by  the  simplest  of  all  modes 
of  agriculture.  These  conservative  people  hold  on 
tenaciously  to  the  old  methods  of  the  far  past.  Their 
tools  and  plows  are  just  the  same,  and  no  better  than 
those  used  by  their  ancestors  in  the  days  of  Abraham. 
The}^  resent  change  and  improvement,  as  involving 
a  "  reflection  upon  the  wisdom  of  their  ancestors."     I 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  283 

introduced  the  cliain-pump  and  wheelbarrow,  but 
they  would  not  use  them.  They  met  my  "  new-fan- 
gled notion  "  with  the  expostulation  (better  to  them 
than  a  score  of  arguments  or  any  amount  of  experi- 
ence), by  saying,  "  Now,  sahib,  from  time  immemo- 
rial our  forefathers  carried  clay  on  their  heads  in 
baskets,  and  what  are  we  that  we  should  set  up  to 
be  wiser  than  they  ? "  So  I  had  to  cease  the  effort. 
Only  a  change  of  religion  will  lift  them  out  of  these 
ruts,  and  that  does  so.  Our  people,  as  soon  as  they 
receive  the  grace  of  God,  are  emancipated  from  such 
folly,  and  ready  for  any  temporal  improvements  that 
can  better  their  condition.  When  this  land  becomes 
Christian,  and  science  has  a  chance  to  touch  its  agri- 
culture, how  the  face  of  the  earth  will  bloom  !  Their 
little  miserable  plow  (made  of  two  sticks)  never  yet 
turned  up  the  soil  to  the  depth  of  more  than  about 
five  inches.  Recuperative  resources  lie  beneath  which 
a  Christian  plow  would  bring  to  the  surface.  Hea- 
thenism is  an  unmitigated  curse,  not  only  to  the  body 
and  soul,  the  heart,  character,  and  life,  but  also  to  the 
very  soil  they  till,  the  homes  they  live  in,  and  the 
country  over  which  they  travel. 

But  the  blessed  change  and  era  of  all  possible  im- 
provements is  coming;  when  this  "garden  of  India'' 
will  be  made  to  bloom  like  to  "the  garden  of  the 
Lord ; "  and,  in  this  sense  also,  "  There  shall  be  a 
handful  of  corn  in  the  earth  upon  the  top  of  the 
mountains  ;  the  fruit  thereof  shall  shake  like  Lebanon  : 


284  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

and  tliey  of  tlie  city  shall  flourish  like  grass  of  the 
earth." 

"Hasten,  Lord,  the  glorious  dayl  " 

It  is  characteristic  of  all  false  religions  (as  it  is  also 
of  Eomanism),  that  their  "  golden  age "  is  in  the 
past.  Heathenism  avows  this,  and  monrns  over  it. 
On  the  contrary,  evangelical  religion  looks  exultingly 
onward  to  the  future  for  its  golden  age  of  light  and 
blessing,  when  "  He  shall  have  dominion  from  sea  to 
sea,  and  from  the  river  unto  the  ends  of  the  earth;" 
and  when  "  Men  shall  be  blessed  in  him  every- where, 
and  all  nations  shall  call  him  blessed." 

But  we  are  rolling  along  toward  the  west — sleep  is 
out  of  the  question,  for  we  are  to  be  in  Bareilly  in 
a  few  hours !  O,  what  memories  are  awake  now ! 
We  are  living  the  past  over  again.  Our  first  recep- 
tion there  is  before  our  busy  recollections.  It  oc- 
cuiTcd  just  twenty-seven  years  ago,  when  this  great 
valley  w^as  in  "  the  shadow  of  death,"  and  we  came, 
so  unconsciously,  into  the  very  center  of  solicitude 
and  danorer  and  unutterable  sorrow.  We  had  trav- 
eled  round  from  Lucknow,  via  Futtyghur,  on  the 
south,  in  a  little  carriage  which  held  my  family,  and 
was  drawn  by  eight  men  (being  more  economical 
than  to  travel  by  palanquin).  That  journey  was  a 
sample  of  the  past.  There  were  then'  no  made  roads 
in  the  valley,  only  tracks  where  bullock  carts  might 
move.  So  we  were  forty-eight  hours  going  the  sev- 
enty-six miles  from  Futtyghur  to  Bareilly.     The  ruts 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  2S5 

were  so  deep  that  the  axle  of  our  cariiage  would 
eatcli  frequently  on  the  ridge  in  the  center,  when  all 
hands  would  have  to  take  hold  and  pull  it  back ; 
with  a  spade,  wliicli  we  carried  for  the  purpose,  wo 
would  break  down  the  obstruction  and  throw  the 
earth  into  the  ruts ;  then  move  on  again  for  a  while, 
until  a  similar  difficulty  would  have  to  be  surmounted. 
Thus,  for  two  days  and  nights  we  "  worked  our  pas- 
sage," till  I  was  as  much  worn  out  and  sleepy  as  a 
man  need  be. 

The  good  friend,  Judge  Kobertson,  to  whom,  we 
had  a  note  of  introduction,  and  by  whom  we  were 
expected,  had  instructed  his  servant  to  watch  for  our 
coming.  Worn  out  with  toil,  we  had  all  finally 
dropped  asleep  after  passing  the  last  station,  where 
our  men  were  changed,  and  knew  no  more  till  I 
lieard  a  native  trying  to  awake  us  by  saying,  in  poor 
English,  "Sahib,  will  you  have  a  cup  of  tea?" 
Looking  up,  there  stood  the  serv^ant.  It  was  nearly 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning.  We  were  in  Bareillj^, 
and  at  the  door  of  the  kind  gentleman  who  had 
promised  to  entertain  us.  He  was  a  devout  Presby- 
terian, and  received  us  most  kindly.  Little  did  I 
imagine  that,  within  a  few  weeks,  he  would  have  to 
suffer  death  for  being  a  Christian.  lie  had  been 
over  thirty  years  in  India,  and  did  not  anticipate  any 
serious  trouble,  notwithstanding  the  rumors  that  were 
even  then  abroad.  We  remained  under  his  roof 
until  I  found  and  furnished  a  house,  setting  up  my 


286  Fkom  Boston  to  Barkilly. 

books  and  making  all  things  ready  for  the  commence- 
ment of  our  work.  My  full  report  on  the  field 
chosen,  with  maps  and  statistics,  was  prepared  and 
mailed  to  tlie  Board,  and  an  urgent  appeal  for  some 
of  the  missionaries  to  be  sent  on  to  me.  In  the 
mean  time  I  had  opened  services,  boili  in  English  and 
Hindustanee,  the  latter  being  conducted  by  Joel,  my 
native  helper,  who  was  so  generously  given  to  me  by 
our  Presbyterian  brethren  at  Allahabad  as  I  came  up 
the  country.  The  gloom  which  was  daily  deepening 
led  many  of  the  English  officers  to  appreciate  the  serv- 
ices opened  for  them  ;  and  I  have  the  satisfaction  of 
knowing  that,  during  the  ten  weeks  wliich  intervened, 
some  of  them  began  to  live  prayerful  lives,  and 
sought  the  renewing  grace  of  God. 

The  service  for  the  natives  was,  of  course,  very 
small  in  number.  Joel  and  his  wife,  and  three  or 
four  people  who  worked  for  us,  and  ourselves,  witli  a 
young  girl  by  the  name  of  Maria,  constituted  the  con- 
gregation. Maria  was  the  daughter  of  an  Eurasian 
store-keeper.  She  had  gone  some  time  before  to 
visit  friends  at  Calcutta,  and  while  there  had  been 
led  to  attend  the  Baptist  service,  during  a  time  of  re- 
vival interest,  and  had  experienced  religion  and  been 
baptized.  She  returned  to  Bareilly,  and  was  de- 
lighted to  hear  that  a  missionary  was  coming  to  her 
native  city.  As  soon  as  we  arrived  she  visited  us  and 
gave  in  her  name,  and  thus  became  tlie  first  female 
member  of  our  Church  in  India.     My  wife  especially 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  287 

rejoiced  at  the  accession  of  this  dear  girl,  so  full  of 
zeal  and  Christian  simplicity,  anticipating  great  help 
from  her  as  our  work  opened.  She  spoke  both  En- 
glish and  Ilindustanee  well,  and  was  very  lady-like  in 
manner  and  character. 

I  was  not  aware,  till  afterward,  what  an  intense  ex- 
citement our  arrival  occasioned  among  the  people 
around  us.  We  became  the  talk  of  almost  every  one 
in  the  city.  As  an  illustration  of  this,  I  may  mention 
a  visit  paid  to  me  by  a  prominent  native  gentleman. 
Joel  did  the  translating.  This  person  put  on  an  as- 
pect of  much  friendliness,  and  requested*  me  to  be 
candid  in  answering  his  inquiries,  which  I  promised 
to  do.  After  some  nnimportant  talk  he  came  to  what 
he  wanted  to  know,  and  said  :  "  Now,  sahib,  we  peo- 
ple of  Bareilly  understand  that  you  have  come  here 
as  an  agent  of  the  English  government,  to  be  ready, 
when  our  caste  is  broken,  by  either  force  or  fraud,  to 
baptize  us  by  the  thousand,  and  tlms  complete  our 
Christianization.     Is  not  this  so,  sahib  ? " 

I  looked  at  him  with  astonishment,  and  replied : 
"  Why,  sir,  how  could  it  be  so  ?  I  am  not  even  an 
Englishman,  and  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  gov- 
ernment." 

To  understand  what  followed  the  reader  will  re- 
member that  the  natives  of  India  have  full  confidence 
in  the  word  of  a  white  man.  They  think  we  are 
truthful  to  the  last  degree,  and  don't  discount  what 
we  say.     They  declare  of  us  that  the  white  race  are 


288  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

brusque  and  not  courteous  (as  the  English  are  careless 
about  returning  the  salaams  and  salutations  which  the 
humblest  native  will  always  offer  when  they  meet 
them),  but  they  allow  that  this  uncourteous  race  are 
honorable  to  the  heart's  core.  So  my  native  visitor 
was  amazed  at  my  declaring  that  I  "  was  not  an  En- 
glishman," and  solemnly,  as  if  soiTy  to  find  me  telling 
an  untruth,  said  : 

"  Why,  sahib,  your  face  is  white,  you  are  a  Chris- 
tian, and  you  speak  the  English  language  ;  what  else 
could  you  be  but  an  Englishman  ?  " 

I  answered,  "  Why,  I  am  an  American." 

"  A  what  ?  "  said  he. 

"  An  American,"  I  replied. 

Looking  confused,  and  with  much  emphasis,  he 
exclaimed,  "  And  what  is  that  f  " 

I  smiled,  realizing  that  it  was  not  flattering  to  our 
national  pride  to  think  that  here  was  a  tolerably  in- 
telligent representative  of  one  sixth  of  the  human 
family  who  had  never  heard  of  us,  and  knew  not 
that,  away  in  the  Atlantic,  and  beyond  England, 
there  was  a  nation  of  people  as  numerous  as  the  En- 
glish, who  spoke  the  same  language,  had  white  faces, 
and  were  Christians. 

I  could  not  make  it  clear  to  my  visitor.  He  had 
never  heard  of  us.  We  are  not  in  his  geography. 
The  interview  terminated  and  he  left  my  house,  I 
fear,  under  the  conviction  that  I  had  told  a  falsehood 
to  cover  my  purpose.     I  have  reason  to  believe  that 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  289 

the  impression  produced  by  the  conversation  put  my 
life  in  more  jeopardy  than  if  the  interview  had  not 
taken  place.  Five  or  six  years  afterward,  when  tlie 
Hindu  farmer  began  to  receive  nearly  two  rupees  for 
the  same  quantity  of  cotton  which  he  had  sold  for 
one  rupee  the  year  before,  he  began  to  inquire  what 
was  the  reason.  Our  civil  war  and  blockaded  south- 
ern ports  explained  it,  and  men  in  India  began  to 
study  modern  geography;  the  result  was  a  stimulus 
to  education  in  Hindustan.  If  my  visitor  survived 
till  then,  it  is  likely  my  character  for  veracity  was 
entirely  redeemed,  though  it  was  a  long  time  to  wait 
for  vindication. 

The  profession  of  neutrality  in  religion,  which  the 
government  at  that  time  had  begun  to  avow  rather 
frequently,  and  sometimes  even  to  the  disparagement 
of  Christianity  itself,  did  not  help  the  situation.  It 
produced  much  the  same  result  as  my  statement 
did  on  this  man's  prejudiced  mind.  People  there 
could  not  believe  it  possible  that  a  government  could 
have  a  religion  and  not  be  zealous  for  it.  To  have 
it,  and  hold  it  lightly,  was,  in  their  view,  insincere  and 
deceptive,  and  contrary  to  their  own  practice.  It 
would  have  been  far  better  and  safer  to  have  avowed 
their  Christianity,  while  they  disclaimed  any  inten- 
tion to  force  it,  directly  or  indirectly,  upon  the  ac- 
ceptance of  any  one  else.  Meanwhile  the  heathen 
and  Mohammedan  priests  were  busy  turning  all  this, 

and  every  thing  else  jDossible,  to  their  purpose,  and 
19 


290  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

weaving  their  fearful  web  around  Christian  life,  and 
longing  for  the  time  when  their  willing  agents,  the 
Sepoys,  were  to  rise  on  the  same  day  and  hour  all 
over  India,  and  extinguish  every  thing  Christian  and 
English  in  the  land ;  and  then  restore  the  old  regi- 
men in  all  its  former  vigor  and  profit  to  themselves. 
Every  law  that  was  passed  to  abolish  customs  con- 
trary to  humanity,  every  missionary  that  came  into 
the  country,  and  every  school  that  was  opened  in- 
creased their  fears,  and  intensified  their  resolution  to 
extinguish  in  blood  this  entire  Christian  civilization 
which  had  arisen  in  their  country. 

These  priests  saw,  with  alarm  and  indignation,  the 
abolition  of  ancient  rites  and  ceremonies  that  were  so 
liiglily  profitable  to  themselves.  With  the  humanity 
that  terminated  these  miseries  and  murders,  in  the 
interest  especially  of  poor  suffering  womanhood, 
they  had  no  sympathy.  They  thought  only  of  the 
rupees  that  were  lost  to  themselves  by  the  termina- 
tion of  these  abominable  practices,  and  they  cursed  in 
their  hearts  the  benevolent  English  officials  who  had 
decreed  their  final  ending.  The  abolition  of  female 
infanticide,  widow  burning,  the  exposure  of  the  sick 
to  die,  the  charakpooja  (hook-swinging)  of  Bengal, 
the  innnolation  of  devotees  under  the  wheels  of  the 
Juggernaut,  and  other  horrors,  they  resented  with  in- 
dignation. All  these  ceremonies  were  profitable  to 
them,  and  hence  the  priestly  caste  opposed  their  aboli- 
tion with  all  their  power.     What  immense  gains,  for 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  291 

instance,  these  Brahmans  made  out  of  the  burning  of 
those  eleven  wives  of  Runjeet  Singh !  It  was  propor- 
tionately so  where  onlj^  one  woman  was  burned.  She 
was  entitled,  as  her  last  act  before  ascending  the  pjre, 
to  distribute  the  contents  of  her  jewel-box  among  her 
weeping  friends  around  her,  but  the  lion's  share  usually 
fell  to  the  officiating  priests.  These  humane  laws  oE 
the  British  government  cut  down  the  perquisites  of 
these  greedy  and  heartless  wretches.  They  were  at 
once  the  high  aristocracy  and  pampered  priesthood 
of  the  nation,  holding  in  utter  contempt  the  lower 
castes.  Every  school  opened  became  a  terror  to 
them,  and  especially  when  they  saw  these  lower- 
caste  youth  freely  received  into  them,  lads  '*  wliose 
fathers  tliey  would  not  have  set  with  the  dogs  of 
their  flocks."  They  feared  the  light  which  educa- 
tion was  so  sure  to  bring,  the  elevation  which  it 
would  and  did  confer  upon  the  classes  whom  they 
despised,  and  whom  they  did  their  best  to  keep  down 
and  degrade.  So  they  plotted  for  the  utter  over- 
throw of  the  government  and  the  missionary,  and 
anticipated  a  return  of  the  dreadful  past,  with  a 
I'estoration  of  its  fearful  customs. 

But  God  is  great  for  emergencies.  He  had  "  risen 
to  shake  terribly  the  earth."  These  men  were  al- 
lowed to  run  their  course,  and  madly  to  hasten  on  the 
destruction  of  their  purposes.  They  were  doomed 
to  see  the  consolidation  of  the  Christian  civilization 
which  they  so  confidently  expected    to  have  over- 


292  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

thrown,  and  which,  in  its  preservation  at  that  time, 
was  to  involve  so  much  for  woman,  and  for  India 
through  woman. 

The  terrible  31st  of  May,  1857,  came,  and  the  con- 
spirators exulted  in  its  ruin  and  bloodslied.  Few 
scenes  in  all  the  land  were  more  fearful  than  those  pre- 
sented that  da}^  in  Bareilly,  including  the  martyrdom 
of  Maria  and  the  murder  of  every  Christian  whom  they 
were  able  to  iind.  This  was  followed  by  our  long 
months  of  anxious  waiting  upon  the  summit  of  Ny- 
nee  Tal,  daily  and  nightly  watching  the  foe  that  was 
besieging  us,  and  thirsting  for  our  blood  also.  Six 
months  later  came  my  journey  round  the  Himalayas 
to  Mussoorie  and  Delhi,  for  the  providential  purpose 
indicated  in  the  last  chapter,  and  our  return  to  Nynee 
Tal,  accompanied  by  the  two  missionaries  who  had 
been  able,  as  soon  as  the  road  from  Cawnpore  up  had 
been  cleared  of  the  Sepoys,  to  join  me  at  Meerut. 
Then  followed  tlie  building  of  our  little  church,  and 
the  formal  opening  of  our  missionary  work  at  Nynee 
Tal,  while  waiting  the  restoration  of  British  authori- 
t}^  below,  in  Oude  and  Rohileund,  and  the  coming  of 
more  missionaries  with  which  to  occupy  the  leading 
towns  and  cities.  But  we  had  to  wait  six  months 
more  ere  the  road  to  Bareilly  was  cleared,  and  we 
could  return  and  commence  our  work  there  and  at 
Lucknow.  Meanwhile  the  anticipated  famine  began 
to  manifest  itself,  though  its  horrors  were  not  fully 
developed  for  half  a  year  later ;  but  God  was  aiding 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  293 

us  in  getting  ready  for  the  part  which  we  were  to  act 
in  that  great  emergency. 

Five  missionary  families  were  soon  to  sail  from 
"New  York  to  strengthen  our  hands,  which  would 
raise  our  number  to  ten.  Help  was  pouring  in  to 
provide  homes  for  them,  and  my  hands  were  full  of 
liard  toil  to  get  ready  for  all  that  were  coming.  Ac- 
commodations were  procured  in  Lucknow  by  pur- 
chase, but  in  Bareilly  I  had  to  build.  Every  Euro- 
pean residence  had  been  burned,  except  the  Freema- 
son's Hall,  which  the  Sepoys  had  spared,  as  they 
understood  that  something  mysterious  occasionally 
occurred  there,  and  it  might  not  be  lucky  to  touch 
it ;  so  it  stood  uninjured.  Perhaps  houses  were 
never  erected  amid  greater  difficulties  than  those  in 
Bareilly.  By  being  prompt  I  managed  to  secure 
good  sites,  and  to  obtain  safe  titles  to  them,  and  then 
purchased  and  laid  in  what  material  I  could  obtain 
for  erecting  two  good  mission  houses  without  delay. 
The  hot  season  was  coming  on,  the  tropical  rains 
would  begin  toward  the  close  of  June.  The  mission 
liouses  must  be  covered  in  before  the  first  of  July. 
I  had  nearly  sixty  masons  and  caqienters  employed, 
and  gave  my  full  time  to  push  things  ahead  with 
them.  Providence  sent  me  just  the  man  I  needed  to 
help  me — a  native  by  the  name  of  Joseph  Fieldbrave, 
a  Christian,  who  had  been  one  of  the  Lucknow  gar- 
rison, and  fought  well  for  Christianity  there.  He 
was  more  a  man  of  business  than  Joel,  so  I  appointed 


294  Fkom  BosToisr  to  Bareilly. 

the  latter  to  go  to  JDreachiDg  with  the  missionary  I 
had  stationed  at  Lncknow,  and  retained  Joseph  with 
myself  at  Bareilly.  We. got  on  well  wdth  our  work 
till  a  competition  commenced  with  the  engineer  offi- 
cer having  charge  of  erecting  the  barracks,  hospital, 
and  other  buildings  for  the  English  troops,  who  were 
waiting  under  canvas.  He  was  in  as  much  oi  a 
hurry  to  have  his  soldiers  sheltered  in  time  as  I  was 
to  provide  for  the  coming  missionaries. 

To  facilitate  matters  the  government  passed  a  spe- 
cial law,  giving  him  the  right  to  seize  every  kiln  of 
bricks  and  every  lot  of  timber  he  could  find  for  sale, 
paying  the  value,  of  course.  So  I  had  to  run  a  race 
wnth  this  engineer,  a  Major  H.  He  could  not  come 
in  on  my  ground  and  take  any  thing  I  had  there,  but 
he  might  go  round  me  and  find  out,  if  he  could, 
w^here  I  obtained  materials  to  keep  my  men  going. 
Bat  Joseph  and  myself  worked  hard,  and  the  walls 
went  up  fast.  The  major  rode  past  daily,  and  won- 
dered at  what  he  saw.  He  had  power  and  plenty 
of  money,  yet  his  stock  of  materials  was  scant,  and 
his  walls  did  not  go  up  as  fast  as  he  desired.  He 
formed  the  resolution  that  he  would  find  out  where 
I  got  my  materials,  and  then  steal  a  march  on  me, 
and  help  himself  at  our  expense.  Joseph  and  I  were 
determined  that  he  should  not  if  we  could  prevent  it. 
Yet  we  made  no  plan,  nor  did  I  instruct  Joseph  what 
to  do  or  say.  I  knew  this  good  native  had  perfect 
sympathy  with  me  in  the  work  being  done ;  that  he 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.    .  295 

was  a  man  of  prayer,  and  was  looking  to  tlie  Lord,  as 
I  was,  for  help  to  carry  on  this  work  from  day  to  day ; 
and  that,  in  addition,  he  had  a  good  stock  of  natural 
shrewdness,  which  could  be  depended  on.  I  loved 
Joseph  and  trusted  him  fully,  and  he  cordially  recip- 
rocated my  esteem  and  affection.  We  used  to  be  up 
early  while  some  other  people  were  sleeping,  and  this 
was  in  some  measure  the  secret  of  our  success.  So 
the  walls  continued  to  go  up,  and  we  were  getting 
the  roofs  ready  and  doors  and  windows  made,  to  the 
surprise  of  our  friend,  the  major. 

One  day,  seeing  Joseph  alone,  he  took  his  oppor- 
tunity, rode  up  and  saluted  him,  was  very  friendly, 
and  put  Joseph  in  good  humor.  He  then  said,  "  Now 
Joseph,  I  want  to  talk  to  you  a  little,  and  ask  you  a 
question  or  two." 

*'  All  right,  sahib,  I  will  be  glad  to  hear  you  and 
answer  you." 

The  major  felt  that  his  way  was  open  to  advance 
further,  and  he  began  to  praise  me  to  Joseph  as  a  man 
of  energy  and  ability,  to  all  of  which  my  good  help- 
er fully  assented.  The  major  then  ventured  a  little 
nearer  to  liis  object,  became  more  confidential,  and  said: 

"  Well,  Joseph,  it  is  wonderful  how  your  sahib  does 
push  his  work  along  upon  these  houses.  Why,  I  pass 
by  daily  and  the  walls  grow  higher,  and  yet  his  heaps 
of  bricks  and  timber  don't  seem  to  grow  much  less. 
It  is  wonderful.  Now,  Joseph,  how  does  he  do  it  ? 
Where  does  he  get  his  supplies  ? " 


296  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

Without  any  hesitation  Joseph  answered,  with  one 
of  his  own  pleasant  smiles,  "  Sahib,  I'll  tell  yon,"  and 
the  major's  ear  was  set  to  catch  every  word  ;  "  Well, 
don't  you  know,  sahib,  that  my  sahib  is  Jesus 
Christ's  man  ? " 

^'  O  yes,  I  know  that,  but  then  about  the  supplies  ? " 

"Well,  sahib,  he  is  doing  this  work  for  Jesus 
Christ."  That  was  assented  to,  and  he  continued : 
"  You  see,  sahib,  he  gets  anxious  sometimes  about 
having  materials  enough  to  iinish  them  in  time,  and 
when  this  occurs,  he  just  goes  and  tells  God  in  prayer 
and  asks  Inm  to  help  him,  and  God  then  gives  him 
just  what  he  wants,  and  that,  sahib,  is  where  my  sahib 
gets  his  supplies." 

It  was  a  novel  idea  of  commissariat  to  the  major,  so, 
gathering  up  his  reins,  he  bid  Joseph  good-morning 
and  rode  off.  My  worthy  helper  came  round  to 
'where  I  was  and  told  me,  witli  a  merry  twinkle  in 
his  eye,  the  whole  conversation. 

Nor  did  Joseph  say  one  word  which  he  did  not 
fully  believe.  He  knew  it  w^as  my  habit  to  do  exact- 
ly as  he  said,  asking  help  of  God,  and  then  using  all 
the  common  sense  and  opportunity  with  which  provi- 
dence favored  us  from  day  to  day,  and  that  thus  we 
were  kejDt  going.  If  the  major  had  had  "  spiritual 
discernment "  and  "  marked  a  providence,"  he  would 
have  "comprehended"  the  exact  correctness  of  Jo' 
seph's  reply.  But  I  suppose  his  inability  led  him  to 
take  the  more  limited  and  worldly  view,  and  he  set 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  297 

down  the  answer  to  Joseph's  adroitness  to  head  him 
off  in  his  artful  effort.  Perhaps  it  was  a  pretty  good 
illustration  of  the  text  which  says,  "  Be  ye  wise  as 
serpents  and  harmless  as  doves."  But  the  major  was 
more  than  ever  puzzled  to  find  out  from  what  brick 
kiln  and  timber  yard  our  resources  were  derived.  He 
little  knew  that  (apart  from  what  we  first  obtained 
before  the  law  gave  him  his  peculiar  power)  we  had 
given  up  competing  with  him  on  that  line,  and  were 
drawing  what  we  further  needed  from  a  source  of 
which  he  did  not  even  dream. 

Here  Joseph's  sagacity  was  of  great  assistance  to 
me.  Some  time  before,  when  the  piles  began  to  di- 
minish rather  fast,  and  we  were  becoming  anxious, 
he  called  my  attention  to  the  fact  that,  in  the  recapt- 
ure of  Bareilly,  the  year  previously.  General  Jones, 
approaching  it  from  the  Delhi  side,  had  to  do  some 
damage  with  his  artillery  to  drive  out  the  Sepoys  and 
compel  surrender.  So  there  were  some  ruins  here  and 
there,  of  no  particular  use  to  their  owners,  which 
Joseph  found  they  would  be  glad  to  sell,  as  we  de- 
sired the  materials  only  and  not  the  land.  Tliey  were 
willing  to  wait  till  next  year  to  build,  when  the 
emergency  would  be  over,  and  prices  would  have 
fallen  perhaps  one  half.  Thus  it  was  a  mutual  advan- 
tage to  them  and  us.  Joseph  would  make  the  bar- 
gains and  bring  me  to  examine  and  sanction  in  each 
instance.  Then  he  would  put  coolies  on  the  walls, 
and  the  bricks,  timber,  and  tiles  would  be  got  out,  bul- 


298  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

lock  carts  called,  and  the  loads  niarclied  up  to  our 
premises.  So  our  heaps  were  sustained,  while  our 
walls  went  up,  and  the  major  was  puzzled  to  account 
for  it.  But  we  succeeded,  and  all  w^as  ready  by  the 
time  that  the  missionaries  arrived.  It  was  a  hard 
struggle,  nevertheless,  and  especially  for  my  family, 
as  we  had  to  go  through  that  hot  season  under  canvas, 
when  the  thermometer  often  stood  from  130  to  140 
degrees  in  the  sun,  and  boils  and  ophthalmia  were  the 
penalty  that  had  to  be  endured  for  such  exposure. 

My  good  helper  had  also  charge  of  our  little  con- 
gregation. We  fixed  up  a  room  as  a  place  of  worship, 
and  Joseph  arranged  for  a  dedication  of  it.  One  of 
the  great  deficiencies  was  something  to  sing  that  was 
suitable.  Hymns  and  tunes  were  very  scarce  things 
then.  But  good  Joseph  assured  me  that  he  would 
look  after  that,  too.  How  he  could  do  it  was  more 
than  I  could  imagine.  But  the  Sabbath  came  round, 
the  room  was  ready,  had  a  little  pulpit,  and  really 
looked  very  presentable.  Joseph  was  at  his  best  as 
he  conducted  the  service.  He  had  the  hymns  written 
out  on  paper  for  any  who  could  read  to  join.  To  my 
surprise,  the  singing  was  most  hearty,  with  tunes  that 
I  had  never  heard  before.  When  the  service  closed 
Joseph  came  to  me,  and  was  evidently  anxious  to 
know  what  I  thought  of  the  dedication,  and  especially 
of  the  singing.  I  told  him  how  much  I  was  pleased, 
and  said,  "  But,  Joseph,  where  did  you  get  those 
hymns?"     With  real  modesty  he  answered,  "Well, 


From  Boston  to  Baretlly.  299 

sahib,  I  made  them  myself!"  And  when  I  asked 
for  an  explanation,  how  it  came  that  the  congregation 
had  joined  so  heartily  in  the  singing,  I  found  tliat 
Joseph  had  selected  native  tunes,  and  having  made 
verses  that  would  go  to  them,  he  had  drilled  the 
people  two  or  three  evenings  in  advance  of  the 
"  dedication "  Sabbath,  and  hence  the  results  that  so 
surprised  me. 

I  did  not  then  know  what  value  there  was  in  the 
effort,  or  what  significance  it  bore  to  the  future ;  but 
I  have  lived  long  enough  to  see  that  it  meant  more 
than  I  then  supposed.  In  subsequent  years,  when 
the  hhajan  style  of  hymns  came  into  such  favor  in 
our  mission,  and  native  music  was  adapted,  and  their 
singing  became  so  much  more  enthusiastic  than  our 
foreign  hymns  and  tunes  could  be  to  them,  my  mind 
went  gratefully  back  to  this,  the  first  manifestation 
of  both,  and  I  had  good  reason  to  appreciate  the  effort 
made  by  Joseph.  There  must  have  been  both  merit 
and  originality  in  that  instance  beyond  what  I  could 
imderstand :  for  last  year,  when  I  reached  Bareilly, 
one  of  the  first  persons  to  accost  me  was  a  man  of 
noble  presence,  wlio  said,  "  O,  sahib,  how  grateful  I 
am  that  when  I  was  a  little  fellow,  running  wild 
about  these  streets,  you  noticed  me,  and  insisted  that 
my  fatlier  must  send  me  to  school  that  I  might  obtain 
an  education ! "  I  looked  up  inquiringly,  and  they 
said,  "  Why,  this  is  Brother  Isaac  Fieldbrave,  the  son 
of  Joseph,  your  old  helper."     So  here  I  found  the 


300  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

poetic  talent  of  the  father  resting,  with  large  increase, 
upon  the  worthy  son,  who  is  to-day  "the  sweet  singer" 
of  onr  India  Israel,  and  author  already  of  nearly  fifty 
uf  the  hymns  in  our  India  Hymnal.  He  is  an  or- 
dained elder  in  our  Conference,  and  one  of  the  most 
devoted  and  successful  revivalists  that  we  have  in 
that  land. 

In  due  time  the  missionaries  arrived,  and  were  com- 
fortably settled  in  their  new  homes,  and  the  entire 
machinery  of  our  mission  was  soon  in  good  running 
order.  But  our  little  congregations  were  sadly  lack- 
ing in  the  woman  element,  and  we  had  no  female 
agency  to  work  in  either  school  or  zenana.  The 
prospect  was  not  encouraging.  Still  the  hope  born 
in  my  heart  in  the  Dewanee-Khass  remained,  and 
its  fruition  was  awaited  with  earnest  expectation. 
Thinking  I  might  push  matters  somewhat,  I  wrote 
and  pleaded  with  Dr.  Durbin  to  send  me  two  lady 
missionaries,  that  we  might  try,  without  further  de- 
lay, what  could  be  done.  He  kindly  granted  the 
request,  and  they  came.  But  we  found  that  little 
could  be  effected  then  in  that  line  of  work.  I  was 
premature  in  the  effort.  Circumstances  were  not 
ready.  No  zenana  home  was  open  to  them,  and  the 
people  ridiculed  our  first  efforts  to  establish  girls' 
schools  in  Bareilly.  So  we  had  to  "  trust  in  the  Lord 
and  wait  patiently  for  him,"  assured  that  though  his 
"hour  had  not  yet  come,"  it  would  come,  and  we. 
should  see  and  rejoice  in  it. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  301 

Let  us  trace  the  furtlier  links  in  that  divine  chain 
of  events  which  our  God  was  meanwhile  preparing, 
and  which  were,  ere  long,  to  be  united  together  so 
timely  and  effectually  that  the  divine  plan  would 
be  fully  developed.  I  have,  in  the  last  chapter, 
referred  to  the  other  links  already  prepared  :  the 
suggestion  and  the  letter  in  the  '*  Dewanee-Khass," 
and  the  education  dispatch  of  Sir  Charles  Wood. 
Here  were  the  preliminary  and  foundation  facts  on 
which  all  subsequent  and  cognate  links  were  sus- 
pended. One  was  the  State,  converted,  at  last,  from 
its  subservience  to  caste,  and  from  its  indifference  to 
the  danger  arising  from  the  deep  ignorance  of  the 
masses  under  its  rule.  The  other  was,  the  Church 
of  Christ,  especially  its  feminine  portion,  called  by 
the  special  grace  of  God  to  come  to  his  aid  for  the 
enlightenment  and  redemption  of  their  sisterhood  in 
India,  whom  they  alone  could  reach.  The  State 
stood  ready,  as  soon  as  they  came  and  had  pre- 
pared a  suitable  native  agency,  to  meet  with  liberal 
hand  one  half  of  the  entire  expense  of  their  educa- 
tional efforts  in  schools  and  orphanages  :  it  was  ''  the 
earth  helping  the  woman,"  under  the  providence  of 
the  Almighty.  In  tlie  meantime  God  was  guiding 
us,  so  tliat,  wlien  the  events  transpired  where  tlie 
opportunity  which  we  were  to  utilize  sliould  come 
within  our  reach,  we  might  be  wise  to  "  discern  the 
signs  of  the  times,"  and  fulfill  the  duty  expected  of 
us.     Tlie  good-will  of  the  government  in  India,  the 


302  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

sanction  of  tlie  home  authorities,  and  our  Missionary 
Society,  the  sympathy  of  tlie  ladies  of  our  Church, 
and  the  money  to  make  our  first  efforts,  were  already 
secured  and  in  our  hand.  We  were  ready  and  wait- 
ing for  the  coming  events,  now  so  near. 

5.  The  inevitable  famine  appeared,  and  great 
numbers  sunk  under  its  pressure  ere  the  government 
was  able  to  institute  measures  of  relief.  JS^o  rail- 
roads, no  roads  of  any  kind  then,  in  or  through  the 
districts  on  which  the  infliction  fell,  by  which  help 
and  succor  could  be  hurried  up  for  relief.  But  the 
government  did  what  it  could  to  mitigate  the  blow 
that  had  fallen  upon  the  poor  people.  The  native 
police  were  sent  out  through  the  villages  to  succor 
the  living  and  to  bury  the  dead.  Even  Hindu  hu- 
manity led  the  poor  parents  to  favor  the  children  with 
the  last  morsel  available.  So  that,  in  many  cases, 
the  children  alone  were  found  alive.  The  accounts 
of  the  misery  that  reached  us  were  dreadful.  As 
soon  as  possible  the  wretched  little  ones  were  brought 
into  Moradabad,  one  of  our  mission  stations,  where 
the  authorities  took  temporary  care  of  them  until 
some  arrangements  would  be  developed  to  take  them 
off  their  hands.  I  went  to  see  them,  and  never  be- 
fore witnessed  such  wretchedness  as  they  exhibited. 
But  1  felt  assured  that  Christian  kindness  and  educa- 
tion, and  above  all  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  could  work 
miracles  among  even  these  wretched  starving  chil- 
dren. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  303 

6.  I  made  my  offer  to  tlie  government  to  take  up 
and  adopt  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  of  each  sex. 
Of  course  they  were  much  pleased  to  be  relieved  of 
the  care  of  so  many  of  them,  and  promised  to  render 
us  every  aid  in  their  power  in  the  burden  which  we 
were  assuming.  I  secured  the  hearty  sympathy  of 
nearly  all  the  members  of  the  mission  in  this  effort. 
There  were  one  or  two  timid  ones  who  doubted  the 
prudence  of  our  course  in  taking  such  a  heavy  charge 
upon  our  hands.  One  of  them  remarked  one  day, 
"Brother  Butler,  what  will  you  do  with  all  those 
children  ?  You  will  bankrupt  the  mission,  most 
surely."  I  could  only  reply,  "  The  Lord  will  pro- 
vide ;  wait  and  see."  If  that  person  had  included 
the  future  more  fully  in  his  view,  or  had  prayed  as 
long  and  earnestly  over  this  question  of  the  number 
to  be  taken  as  I  had  done,  he  would  have  felt  as 
the  rest  of  us  did,  and  have  even  regretted  that  we 
could  not  take  a  larger  number.  Yet,  even  that 
doubting  one  learned  afterward  to  rejoice  with  us  in 
the  glad  results. 

Taking  my  faithful  helper,  Joseph,  w^itli  me,  I 
went  over  to  Moradabad  to  select  the  children,  but 
after  a  day  or  two  I  learned,  to  my  astonishment, 
that  I  had  some  further  difficulties  to  overcome  ere 
I  obtained  them.  I  found  the  English  magistrate 
(who  shall  be  nameless  here)  had  no  sympathy  what- 
ever with  our  object.  Whether  this  man's  opposition 
arose  from  disHke  to  Christianity  itself,  or  to  our 


304  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

Methodist  form  of  it,  I  cannot  say;  but  I  soon 
learned  that  he  had  made  np  his  mind  to  obstruct  us 
as  far  as  he  dared  without  involving  himself  with  the 
government,  whose  sanction  I  had  secured.  He  gave 
as  a  reason  for  his  resistance  to  their  adoption  by  a 
Christian  mission,  that  he  objected  to  their  being 
brought  up  in  a  faith  opposed  to  that  of  their 
dead  parents.  But  I  drew  his  attention  to  the  fact 
that  the  co-rehgionists  of  their  parents  liad  shown  no 
interest  in  taking  tliem  np  and  providing  for  them^ 
but  left  them  and  the  rest  in  their  misery.  We  had 
come  forward,  and  were  ready  to  do  what  they  would 
not  do ;  but  that  we  took  them  on  our  own  condi- 
tions, which  were,  to  educate  tliem,  not  to  be  heathen, 
but  to  be  Christians.  His  Hindu  and  Mohammedan 
friends  could  have  as  many  as  they  chose  (for  there 
were  hundreds  left,  and  waiting  for  some  one  to  have 
compassion  upon  them),  and  they  could  then  bring 
them  up  as  they  should  prefer.  Yet  they  did  not  move 
a  linger  for  the  relief  of,  nor  ask  for,  any  of  them ; 
they  had  other  motives  in  view,  and  were  at  work 
upon  them.  I  could  not  suspect  how  busy  the  devil 
was  meanwhile  trying  to  head  me  off,  and  that  he 
was  making  use  of  this  man  for  his  purposes;  but, 
no  doubt,  he  well  knew  what  our  effort  meant  to  him, 
and  his  dark  dominion  over  the  valley  of  the  Ganges, 
and  was  resolved  that  we  should  be  defeated,  though 
the  means  involved  the  ruin,  body  and  soul,  of  these 
poor  girls  whom  we  were  so  anxious  to  save  ! 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  305 

It  was  evident  that  I  was  going  to  liave  a  struggle 
with  this  unworthy  "Christian"  for  my  share  of 
these  poor  children.  I  knew  I  could  have  his  resist- 
ance overruled  by  making  an  appeal  to  the  govern- 
ment, but  that  was  not  desirable  if  it  could  be 
avoided.  So  I  returned  to  Bareilly  to  see  what 
could  be  done  before  bringing  matters  to  an  issue, 
thbugh  apprehending  disadvantage  from  the  delay. 
Taking  the  case  to  the  Lord  in  prayer,  I  ini23lored  his 
help  in  this  emergency,  that  he  might  "  undertake 
for  us."  I  felt  sure  that,  whatever  the  resistance 
was,  or  might  mean,  that  he  w^ould  not  allow  our 
]ioj)es  to  be  dashed  to  the  ground,  but  would  place 
this  precious  charge  in  .  our  hands,  and  ultimately 
make  them  the  help  and  blessing  to  our  work  in  the 
future  for  which  I  had  so  earnestly  hoped  and 
prayed.  But  I  soon  learned  that  waiting  would  not 
brino^  them — a  struor^le  for  them  was  inevitable,  and 
that  for  more  reasons  than  we  then  knew  or  even 
feared,  anxious  though  our  own  forebodings  were.  I 
began  to  realize  that  I  should  once  more  have  to  face 
the  devil  in  his  den  in  my  eiforts  to  preserve  these 
children  from  his  grasp.  Alas,  I  dreamed  not  that 
they  were  already  in  his  clutches,  and  that  he,  "  like  a 
Hon  greedy  of  his  prey,"  was  exulting  over  his  suc- 
cess !  Still  they  were  not  absolutely  his.  Even  from 
the  jaws  of  Satan  poor  fainting  souls  may  be  rescued  ! 
Glorious  indeed  is  the  divine  attribute  of  power.     I 

remembered  that   He   was  "the  strong  God,"  "the 
20 


306  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

Miglitj  One  of  Jacob,"  and  to  liim  I  went  with  an 
agonized  heart  (for  I  was  growing  very  apprehensive), 
pleading  for  those  little  ones,  whom  I  felt  were  in  great 
danger,  and  that  he  alone  could  rescue  them.  How 
the  word  of  God  was  adapted  to  our  relief,  as  though 
given  by  his  own  inspiration  for  the  very  case  in  hand  : 
''  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Even  the  captives  of  the  mighty 
shall  be  taken  away,  and  the  prey  of  the  terrible  shall 
be  delivei-ed :  for  I  will  contend  with  him  that  con- 
tendeth  with  thee,  and  I  will  save  tliy  children !" 

Within  a  few  days  came  the  glad  news  that  the 
opposing  magistrate  was  unexpectedly  removed  to 
another  station,  and  his  successor  was  hourly  looked 
for.  I  waited  till  the  arrival  of  the  new  magistrate 
was  reported,  and  then  went  over  again  to  Morada- 
bad  to  see  him.  With  an  anxious  heart  I  approached 
his  office.  He  received  me  kindly.  His  gentle  and 
manly  looks  encouraged  me  to  believe  that  I  should 
find  sympathy  for  my  object.  He  listened  to  my 
story,  and,  as  I  gave  the  facts,  liis  fine  countenance 
changed  into  indignant  amazement,  and  he  said,  "  O, 
how  could  any  man  witli  a  Christian  name  and  a 
white  face  put  a  barrier  in  the  way  of  such  an  object 
as  yours !  You  shall  have  the  children.  Where  are 
they  ? "  I  could  not  tell.  He  turned  to  his  native 
subordinates,  and,  in  a  tone  that  alarmed  them,  re- 
peated his  question:  "Where  are  those  children 
which  this  gentleman  has  selected  ? "  They  shrugged 
their  shoulders,  and  said,  "  Sahib,  we  don't  know." 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  307 

But  they  were  trembling.  They  saw  tliat  they  had 
to  do  with  a  man  with  whom  they  dare  not  trifle. 
Their  unity  in  this  wrong  melted  away  in  a  moment, 
and  each  began  to  clear  himself  of  complicity  in  the 
terrible  facts,  till  the  accountability  was  brought 
liome  to  the  responsible  party ;  and  a  demand  that 
they  should  be  promptly  restored  and  surrendered 
had  to  be  at  once  given.  Then  was  revealed  the 
horrible  crime  which  one  or  two  of  the  Mohammedan 
officials  of  that  court  had  arranged  to  perpetrate. 
Taking  advantage  of  the  former  magistrate's  refusal, 
and  assuming  that  I  would  not  earnestly  push  my 
claim,  they  had  hidden  the  girls,  not  to  bring  them  up 
in  tlieir  ancestral  faith  (for  that  was  Hinduism),  nor 
even  to  snatch  them  out  of  the  hands  of  Christianity ; 
but  for  tlie  devilish  purpose  of  having  them  brought 
up  to  a  life  of  infamy !  It  is  hard  to  believe  that  there 
could  exist  creatures  in  human  forui  capable  of  tak- 
ing these  orphans  in  their  utter  wretcliedness  to  sink 
them  down  to  a  doom  like  this  !  We  are  told,  that 
in  the  presence  of  the  immaculate  Christ  men  and 
demons  had  to  stand  confessed  in  tlieir  tnie  charac- 
ter. We  read  of  some  who  are  described  thus,  "  A 
man  who  had  a  spirit  of  an  unclean  devil"  in  him  ! 
Now,  how  much  above  this  lowest  of  all  degradation 
— this  compound  of  beast  and  devil — were  the  men 
who  could  for  such  a  purpose  deliberately  sink  these 
poor  girls  into  the  "deep  damnation"  of  a  life  of 
shame !     It  is  supposable  that  there  may  be  demons 


308  Fjrom  Boston  to  Babeilly. 

who  are  not  degraded  enough  to  perpetrate  such 
deeds  as  these.  What  is  said  by  the  poet  of  the  fear- 
ful guilt  of  suicides — who  rush  uncalled  into  the 
divine  presence — may  be  true  in  hell  of  human 
monsters  of  this  class,  that — 

"  The  common  damned  shun  their  society, 
And  look  upon  themselves  as  fiends  less  foul." 

Often  since  have  I  hoped  that  it  might  be  possible 
to  believe  the  case  was  not  so  dreadful.  I  have  but 
seldom  referred  to  it,  and  never  before  wrote  out  the 
facts.  Those  responsible  are  probably  no  longer 
among  the  living.  They  liave  passed  into  eternity ; 
but,  these  things  being  so,  what  a  "judgment  to 
come  "  awaits  them  there !  My  motive  in  giving  the 
facts  now  will  be  manifest  farther  on  in  the  narra- 
tive, although  my  readers  will,  no  doubt,  anticipate 
me  in  this,  as  exhibiting  the  "  depth  of  mercy " 
which  was  illustrated  in  the  rescue  and  saving  of 
these  poor  but  precious  girls — saved,  too,  for  such 
a  different  destiny — and  also  to  show  how  much 
stronger  is  God  than  Satan  and  all  his  emissaries,  no 
matter  how  sure  and  fortified  they  may  be  in  their 
policy  and  efforts ! 

I  hope  that  magistrate  has  no  responsibility  to 
meet  in  "  the  day  when  the  secrets  of  all  hearts  shall 
be  disclosed,"  for  the  fearful  deeds  of  his  subordi- 
nates. But  he  certainly  will  have  to  answer  for  the 
gratification  he  gave  those  Mohammedans,  in  refus- 
ing to  give  up  the  children  to  me,  as  well  as  for  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  309 

opportunity  whicli  lie  placed  in  their  power  when  ho 
left  those  girls  at  their  mercy  on  his  departure.  He 
imitated  another  magistrate,  with  whom  he  will  have 
to  stand  at  that  awful  bar  of  judgment,  of  whom  it  is 
written,  that  "  Felix,  willing  to  show  the  Jews  a 
pleasure,  left  Paul  bound,"  to  meet  a  fate  he  did  not 
deserve.  Those  girls  were  promptly  recovered,  to 
the  last  one,  and  sent,  at  the  expense  of  somebody 
(not  at  our  expense,  certainly),  right  off  to  Bareilly ; 
BO  that,  within  the  week,  Joseph  and  myself  had  the 
joy  of  receiving  them  all.  How  mad  the  devil  must 
have  been  that  day !  And  how  truly  were  the  Script- 
ures illustrated  here,  "  Of  some  have  compassion,  mak- 
ing a  difference :  and  others  save  with  fear,  pulling 
them  out  of  the  fire ;  hating  even  the  garments  spot- 
ted by  the  flesh  !  " 

But  how  can  I  adequately  describe  these  poor 
girls  as  they  were  set  down  at  our  door  that  day? 
They  were  sent  in  large  carts,  each  containing  twenty 
girls.  Tlie  oldest  was  probably  twelve  or  thirteen 
years,  the  youngest  a  mere  baby ;  but  three  fourths 
of  til  em  were  under  eleven  years  of  age.  Each 
driver  had  his  list  for  his  load.  He  lifted  out  the 
largest  one  first,  and  laid  her  down  ;  then  the  rest, 
placing  them  around  her,  as  if  building  them  into  a 
bee-hive  shape.  Then  the  heaps  were  counted  and 
the  signature  affixed  to  each  list,  and  the  carts  moved 
off.  It  made  the  tears  come  to  look  at  these  deso- 
late little    piles  of  humanity,  cuddling  up  to  each 


310  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

other,  as  though  trying  to  hide  themselves  from  the 
view  of  those  white  ladies  and  gentlemen  that  looked 
at  them  so  seriously.  They  were  all  untidy,  and 
their  countenances  bore  the  trace  of  the  hunger 
through  which  they  had  passed.  Indeed,  one  of 
them  died  on  the  way  over  from  Moradabad,  and  w^e 
had  to  lift  the  little  dead  body  out  of  the  cart  and 
bury  it  at  once.  Three  or  four  others  also  were  so 
far  gone  that  we  could  not  restore  them.  They,  too, 
lie  in  our  little  cemetery.  The  rest  we  were  able  to 
save.  The  aspect  was  sad.  No  joy  of  childhood  on 
any  face,  only  a  look  of  doubt  and  fear  instead  ;  as  if 
they  were  wondering  what  was  going  to  happen  to 
them,  or  whether  we,  who  surveyed  these  groups, 
were  to  be  kind  to  them  or  not.  If  I  only  had  a 
'photograph  of  them,  as  they  looked  that  day^  to  place 
side  by  side  with  the  photographs  we  have  of  them 
as  they  now  appear,  it  ought  to  be  enough  to  induce 
even  an  infidel  (having  any  genuine  philanthropy 
left  in  him)  to  ask  the  privilege  of  becoming  a  regu- 
lar subscriber  to  the  missionary  society  which  could, 
and  did,  do  work  like  this,  in  saving  and  transform- 
ing such  specimens  of  wretched  humanity  into  the 
happy,  cleanly,  cultivated  w^omen,  w^hose  tears  of 
grateful  joy  welcomed  us  back  again,  twenty-four 
years  after,  into  Lucknow  and  Bareilly  ! 

But,  they  were  girls,  and  the  glad  thought  was 
that  they  were  now  at  last  our  own,  to  save  and 
train  and  elevate,  so  that  they  might  rise  to  be  happy 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  311 

in  themselves,  and  a  blessing  to  their  country  forever. 
We  accepted  them  as  a  trust  from  God,  as  a  response 
to  our  long  and  prayerful  desire  in  the  work  that  we 
had  to  do  for  him  in  India.  How  these  hopes  were 
justified,  and  even  exceeded,  will  hereafter  appear. 
All  hands  were  soon  at  work  in  loving  labor,  to 
change  the  sad  aspect  of  things.  Our  good  ladies  and 
their  native  helpers,  before  the  sun  went  down,  had 
accomplished  a  most  delightful  transformation. 
Bodies  "  washed  in  pure  water,"  clean  clothing,  and  a 
hearty  meal  of  wholesome  food,  banished  the  gloomy 
looks,  and  brought  out  the  first  smiles  we  saw  on 
those  little  faces.  They  began  to  realize  what  kind 
hearts  and  hands  were  now  around  them.  And,  then, 
their  minds  were,  of  course,  in  as  necessitous  a  condi- 
tion as  their  poor  bodies.  Not  one  of  all  this  group 
could  read,  or  write  her  own  name.  A  great  work 
had  to  be  done  for  the  mind  as  well  as  for  the  body. 
These  children  being  utterly  without  culture,  and  mor- 
ally "  not  knowing  their  right  hand  from  their  left," 
had  to  be  carefully  taught  the  difference  between 
good  and  evil,  and,  then,  for  a  lengtliened  season, 
they  had  to  be  as  patiently  borne  witli  to  help  them 
to  do,  and  continue  to  follow,  after  the  things  which 
made  for  their  peace  and  purity.  It  was  a  great 
experiment  that  we  had  undertaken,  to  lift  this 
mass  of  female  humanity,  every  item  of  it,  dark  and 
degraded  in  body,  soul,  and  spirit,  up  to  health,  to 
purity,  to  intelligence,  and  to  God.     How  fully  the 


312  From  Boston  to  Bareillt. 

laborious  years  of  toil  and  self-sacrifice  bestowed  on 
tliem  liave  been  rewarded  by  the  results,  will  be 
shown  by  tlie  statistics  I  am  soon  to  quote. 

Notwithstanding  the  prudence  with  which  I  tried 
to  manage  this  painful  business  the  facts  got  out,  and 
it  would  have  made  that  magistrate's  ears  tingle 
could  he  have  heard  some  things  said  of  him  by  the 
other  English  gentlemen,  and  especially  by  their  la- 
dies. Even  upright  heathen  condemned  his  unwor- 
thy action.  So  it  was  no  surprise  to  me,  on  returning 
to  India,  just  after  he  left  it  forever,  to  find  that  his 
official  career  had  closed  under  a  cloud.  It  is  not 
men  like  him  that  God  honors  with  the  love  and  re- 
spect of  the  good  and  benevolent,  devoted  to  the  wel- 
fare of  those  around  them.  A  very  different  class  of 
thought  was  raised  in  my  mind  as  I  looked  so  gladly 
upon  those  happy  groups  of  women  whom  he  had 
tried  to  hinder  me  from  saving.  Thank  God  !  in  de- 
spite of  him  they  were  saved,  and  they  are  there  to- 
day, a  precious  band  of  Christian  women,  while  he 
that  would  have  hindered  me  is  far  away ! 

About  the  time  that  these  difficulties  had  to  be 
faced  another  magistrate  at  the  next  station  (Bij- 
nour)  chose  to  make  himself  unpleasant  to  us ;  stand- 
ing in  the  way  of  our  obtaining  the  land  we  needed 
for  our  mission-house  and  place  of  worship  in  that 
city.  But  this  was  only  sectarian  littleness.  We 
were  not  Episcopalians,  and,  therefore,  could  have  no 
claim  on  his  sympathy ;  not  only  so,  he  was  weak- 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  313 

minded  enough  to  try  to  hinder  us  because  we  be- 
longed to  those  "  insigniiicant  Methodists."  He 
could  not  even  be  civil.  But,  as  he  was  "  king  in 
Bij.nour,"  he  assumed  that  we  sliould  have  to  submit 
to  his  will,  and  remain  without  a  head-quarters  for 
our  mission  there.  This  man  knew  so  little  of  exist- 
ing Christianity, — he  did  not  understand  that  we 
were  a  Church,  and  not  only  a  Church,  but  also  the 
largest  voluntary  Church  in  Christendom.  Yet  he 
affected  to  look  down  upon  us.  Poor  man !  When 
I  encountered  a  person  of  this  class  (though,  I  am 
thankful  to  say,  there  were  very  few  such  to  en- 
counter) I  never  turned  aside,  nor  altered  my  plans 
on  his  account.  I  went  on,  and  made  all  my  ar- 
rangements, and  quietly  waited  (not  on  them,  but)  on 
God  to  remove  the  obstruction,  whatever  it  might  be ; 
and  it  was  always  done.  I  never  failed  to  found  our 
missions  in  the  localities  where  I  had  been  led  to  de- 
cide to  place  them.  We  occupy  to-day  every  strate- 
gic point  which  I  selected  twenty-five  years  ago. 

But  no  credit  to  me  for  this.  I  had  merely  sense 
and  grace  enough  to  see  that  those  who  closely  fol- 
lowed the  Divine  guidance  should  not  be  disap- 
pointed. No  matter  about  the  difficulties  in  the  way  ; 
God  would  look  after  them.  I  had  only  to  "wait 
patiently  for  him,"  and  he  would  not  only  guide,  but 
also  give  me  the  desire  of  my  heart.  How  many  diffi- 
culties, large  and  small,  this  simple  trust  carried  me 
through ! 


314  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

But  others  noted  the  results,  and  after  awhile  I 
had  no  trouble.  I  received  all  I  wanted  or  asked  for, 
and  that,  too,  generally  with  much  good-will  and  kind- 
ness.    Time  brings  explanations  of  many  tilings. 

Last  year,  in  India,  one  of  my  old  associates  asked 
me: 

"  Brother  Butler,  do  you  know  what  the  English 
officials  used  to  say  about  you  when  you  were 
here?^' 

"  ]S"o ;  what  did  they  say  ?  " 

"  "Why,  it  became  a  sort  of  accepted  conclusion 
among  them  to  remark,  when  your  name  came  up, 
*  Well  now,  I  tell  you,  if  Dr.  Butler,  the  missionary, 
comes  round  to  ask  you  to  do  something  to  help  that 
mission  of  his,  I  advise  you  to  let  him  have  it ;  don't 
refuse,  for,  if  you  do,  you  will  either  be  removed 
elsewhere,  or  else  you  will  get  sick  and  have  to  ap- 
ply for  furlough.  At  least,  let  him  and  his  work 
alone.'  Then  A.,  B.,  and  C,  would  be  quoted  as  illus- 
trations of  the  fact !  " 

Certainly  the  case  of  Mr.  P.  at  Bijnour  was  very 
much  in  point.  He  resisted  our  entrance  there,  and 
our  obtaining  land  for  the  mission,  even  though  the 
man  who  owned  it  was  willing  and  anxious  to  sell  to 
us.  Yet  Mr.  P.  set  himself  deliberately  to  hinder 
our  work.  But  I  put  the  matter  into  the  Lord's 
hands  and  waited.  Illness  did  soon  lay  hold  on  Mr. 
P.,  medical  examination  ordered  him  away  to  sea, 
and   he   was   hurried  off,    to  catch   the   next   mail 


.  From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  315 

steamer  from  Calcutta.  His  successor  in  office  proved 
to  be  a  very  different  sort  of  person,  giving  us  both 
sympathy  and  help.  The  land  was  soon  bought,  the 
mission-house  and  place  of  worship  erected;  and 
there  they  both  were  when  Mr.  P.  returned  from 
England,  the  following  year,  standing  on  the  other 
side  of  the  road  right  opposite  his  own  residence ! 
It  is  due  to  him  to  say  that,  after  he  got  over  his 
amazement,  he  brought  his  mind  to  the  circumstances, 
and  henceforth  showed  us  considerable  deference. 
But  these  were  the  exceptions :  the  usual  rule  with 
these  generous  English  people,  was  hearty  apprecia- 
tion and  liberal  help  toward  our  new  mission — and 
truly  the  pious  among  them  (and  there  were  many 
such)  rose  above  all  denominational  narrowness  and 
showed,  in  their  catholicity  of  feeling,  that  tliey 
could  fully  appreciate  Christian  brethren  who  were 
not  of  their  Church,  and  that  they  cordially  sympa- 
thized in  the  sentiment, 

"  Sectarian  littleness  disdain, 
Not  in  the  order  of  each  vein 
Do  purest  gems  agree." 

We  lost  nothing  by  any  contrary  manifestation  on 
the  part  of  those  who  were  weak  enough  to  indulge  it. 
It  was  agreed  by  the  government,  as  our  good 
friend  Mr.  Eeid  had  arranged,  that  we  should  have 
the  "  Grant  in  Aid  "  for  our  Orphanages  and  Schools. 
The  grant  for  the  Orphanages  was  to  be  continued  ten 
years,  and  then  to  cease,  as  by  that  time  it  was  ex- 


316  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

pected  tliat  tlie  institution  would  expend  itself ;  and 
the  one  hundred  and  fifty  children  of  each  sex  would 
have  been  educated,  and  have  gone  forth  to  whatever 
duties  of  life  might  open  to  them.  But,  evidently, 
this  was  not  the  divine  purpose  concerning  these 
institutions.  The  Lord  knew  that  for  a  great  duty 
like  ours — with  twenty  millions  of  souls  around  us, 
having  only  us  to  look  to  for  the  light  and  teaching  of 
salvation — that  one  hundred  and  fifty  boys  and  as 
many  girls  could  not  supply  one  tenth  the  native 
agents  that  such  a  great  work  would  I'equire.  Twenty 
millions  of  souls  is  an  immense  parish.  A  thousand 
boys  and  as  many  girls,  even  if  fifty  per  cent,  of  their 
number  became  efiicient  preachers  and  teachers, 
would  only  yield  one  agent  for  every  twenty  thou- 
sand souls  in  that  valley. 

The  continuation  of  these  Orphanages  became  nec- 
essary for  the  work  which  God  had  called  us  to 
do  for  him,  and  he  provided  for  that  continuance  by 
furnishing  the  children  and  leading  the  government 
there  and  the  Church  at  home  to  perpetuate  their 
assistance  until  a  more  adequate  agency  was  pro- 
vided. This  was  accomplished  in  India  by  the 
Divine  blessing  which  rested  upon  tliose  who  had 
charge  of  the  institutions,  so  that  they  gained  such  a 
cliaracter  for  efficiency  and  benevolence  among  both 
English  and  natives,  that  destitute  children  were  sent  to 
them  from  all  the  region  round.  On  inquiring  of  the 
government  what  we  were  to  do  as  to  the  support  of 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  317 

these  additional  children  wliich  were  sent  to  us  by  the 
magistrates  and  others,  we  were  kindly  told  that  we 
might  add  their  names  also  to  the  list  for  which  we 
drew  the  monthly  "grants  in  aid."  Thus,  on  the  ex- 
piration of  the  ten  years,  the  valuable  help  continued 
riglit  on  as  usual,  and  still  continues,  though  more 
than  twice  ten  years  have  passed  over.  So  also  the 
help  and  sympathy  of  the  Church  at  home  have  been 
uninterrupted ;  and  accordingly  both  of  the  Orphan- 
ages have  gone  on  with  their  beneficent  work,  and  for 
twenty  years  we  have  been  graduating  classes  of  those 
precious  youth  of  both  sexes,  and  meeting  the  wants 
of  our  mission  in  the  suitable  agents  which  the  spread- 
ing work  requires.  And,  now,  the  college  conies  in 
to  meet  the  great  necessity  of  that  higher  culture 
which  is  imperatively  demanded,  and  which  is  not 
only  to  give  us  a  trained  native  ministry,  but  also  en- 
able us  to  dispense  entirely  with  any  heathen  assist- 
ance in  our  schools  ;  so  that  all  our  helpers  of  any 
class  will  soon  be  Christians  only.  The  numerical 
statistics  of  these  institutions  will  enable  my  readers 
to  fully  appreciate  the  great  value  to  our  cause  of 
these  providential  facts,  which  the  good  hand  of  God 
concentrated  here  for  our  help  in  the  work  that  we 
had  to  accomplish  for  him. 

What  all  this  amounts  to  now,  and  what  it  implies 
for  the  future  of  that  work,  will  be  seen  a  few  pages 
farther  on.  The  wisdom  of  God  was  manifested  in 
thus  early  placing  these  children  in  our  hands,  and  in 


318  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

providing  the  means  necessary  for  their  support  and 
training,  while  he  was  preparing  meanwhile  the  other 
links  of  that  chain  of  mercy  with  which  they  were  to 
be  united  so  soon  as  they  had  been  prepared  for  the 
work  that  they  were  to  perform.  The  first  hundred 
and  fifty  girls  all  passed  through  the  Orphanage ;  but 
quietly  God  supplied  their  places,  and  even  doubled 
the  number,  so  that  we  have  to-day  over  two  hun- 
dred and  eighty  girls  under  training  for  the  coming 
future.  Perhaps  none  of  our  missionaries  will  have 
higher  honor  and  greater  joy  in  the  presence  of  our 
Lord  than  will  those  who  have  so  faithfully  and 
patiently  labored  for  the  welfare  and  salvation  of  these 
children.  Brother  and  Sister  Thomas,  Sister  Fanny 
Sparkes,  Brother  and  Sister  Johnson,  and  Brother 
and  Sister  Bare,  will,  no  doubt,  be  glad  forever  for 
what  God  enabled  them  to  do  in  the  preparation  of 
this  native  agency  for  the  redemption  of  the  Gangetic 
valley.  Leaving  them  thus  employed,  let  us  try  to 
trace  the  other  aspects  of  the  Divine  plan  which  were 
to  concur  with  this  when  all  had  been  made  ready 
for  the  requisite  union  and  action. 

7.  In  addition  to  the  important  movements  already 
traced,  it  was  also  indispensable,  in  order  to  render 
them  effective,  that  the  old  and  wicked  prejudice 
against  female  education  should  pass  away,  after  its 
lengthened  tyranny  of  thousands  of  years,  and  that 
a  new  public  sentiment  in  favor  of  the  instruction  of 
women  should  be  created  in  India.      Even  men  like 


From  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  319 

Dr.  Duff  could  not  forecast  how  this  wonderful  revo- 
lution in  public  opinion  could  be  brought  about,  or 
liow  the  Brahminical  resistance  to  any  change  could 
be  overborne.  But  God  knew,  and  was  working 
on  toward  that  result  in  compassion  for  the  benighted 
women  in  those  dreary  homes  of  ignorance  and 
gloom.  Sir  Charles  Wood's  educational  enactment, 
and  its  generous  provisions  of  assistance  for  teaching, 
irrespective  of  sex  or  creed,  was  stirring  the  hearts  of 
men,  leading  them  to  think  and  feel,  till  they  were 
beginning  to  realize  the  shame  that  ignorance  had 
fastened  on  themselves,  their  families,  and  tlieir  na- 
tive land.  This  thought,  under  the  divine  providence, 
was  working  so  powerfully  in  the  minds  of  those  who 
lead  native  opinion,  that  they  were  becoming  ready 
for  a  change,  and  many  of  them  were  glad  to  accept 
any  strong  and  reasonable  excuse  to  cast  off  the  fet- 
ters that  had  so  long  bound  them  all. 

Yet  they  were  individually  timid  about  taking  the 
initiative.  If  they  could  move  together  they  would 
go  into  the  innovation.  But  to  do  this  required  a 
leadership,  that  was  far  beyond  their  courage.  What 
was  just  then  needed  was  an  imperial  power — a  voice 
that  could  speak  and  be  heard  all  over  India,  com- 
mending the  great  change  and  urging  it  upon  them 
as  a  duty.  God  had  that  voice  ready.  The  honored 
man,  to  whom  was  given  to  speak  the  first  and  effect- 
ive utterance  for  woman's  enlightenment  was  Lord 
Lawrence.     And  beyond  what  eveij  he  was  conscious 


320  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

of,  were  to  be  tlie  power  and  influence  of  tliose  few 
words,  which  no  other  governor-general  had  ventured 
to  utter — for  they  had  all  ignored  woman,  as  a  creature 
not  to  be  named  or  known,  and  who  had  no  claim 
wdiatever  upon  the  consideration  of  the  governing 
power.  But  this  great  viceroy,  who  had  already 
commended  the  subject  to  the  consideration  of  prom- 
inent individuals  among  them,  resolved  to  give  it 
public  indorsement,  and  took  his  opportunity  at  the 
grand  durbar,  in  Lahore,  on  the  18th  of  October, 
1864.  Before  that  brilliant  assembly  of  chiefs  and 
princes  he  laid  down  the  obligations  which  their  posi- 
tion involved  for  their  country's  welfare,  by  educa- 
tion and  good  administration,  and  then  closed  with 
these  emphatic  words,  "  To  this  end  I  urge  you  to 
instruct  your  sons,  and  even  your  daughter sP  Those 
words  rang  over  India,  and  were  repeated  by  him  in 
other  durbars.  Their  influence  was  immense.  The 
viceroy  had  indorsed  yi'??2<zZ6  education,  and  the  En- 
glish government  had  provided /z/tk^^  for  its  general 
establishment. 

The  position  had  become  irresistible,  a  new  public 
sentiment  was  originated  which  was  going  to  carry  all 
before  it.  It  is  to-day  omnipotent  in  India.  Not  a 
*^  dog  moves  his  tongue  "  against  it,  from  Cape  Com- 
orin  to  the  Himalayas.  Even  the  sullen  Brahmins  are 
silent,  and  dare  not  resist  it.  At  first  there  may  have 
been  a  measure  of  that  sycophancy  which  is  character- 
istic of  Oriental  submission  to  the  expressed  "  Hook- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  SUl 

urn  of  the  Sirkar,"  as  the  government  behest  is  called. 
But  long  since  their  enlightened  judgments  have  ap- 
proved the  daring  innovation,  and  the  zeal  of  many  of 
them  (even  to  the  extent  of  devoting  large  portions  of 
their  own  revenues  to  help  on  the  cause  of  fe- 
male education)  will  be  shown  hereafter.  Honored 
be  tlie  memory  of  the  great  Christian  viceroy,  w^ho, 
w^lien  ''darkness  was  upon  the  face  of  the  deep"  of 
India's  homes  and  India's  w^omen,  had  the  godlike 
courage  to  stand  forth  and  say,  "  Let  there  be  light ! " 
His  name  will  yet  be  gratefully  entwined  by  the 
daughters  of  Hindustan  with  those  of  the  worthies 
who  abolished  female  infanticide  and  terminated  the 
suttee.  To  such  a  man,  and  the  results  of  his  admin- 
istration, "  the  last  w^ords  of  David "  (recorded  in 
2  Bam.  xxiii,  3,  4)  might  well  be  applied,  as  de- 
scriptive of  such  a  governor  as  India  had  in  Lord 
Lawrence — and  they  ought  to  be  descriptive  of  every 
man  elevated  to  rule — especially  in  a  land  like  Amer- 
ica, where  we  have  free  choice  and  elect  our  own 
governors:  "The  God  of  Israel  said  .  .  .  He  that 
ruleth  over  men  must  be  just,  ruling  in  the  fear  of 
God.  And  he  shall  be  as  the  light  of  the  morning, 
when  the  sun  riseth,  even  a  morning  without  clouds ; 
as  the  tender  grass  springing  out  of  the  earth  by 
clear  shining  after  rain."  Such  a  ruler  of  men  was 
this  governor-general,  and  the  memory  of  his  kind  is 
blessed  in  India,  as  in  every  land  favored  with  such 

godlike  administrations.      The   w^orld  is  weary,  the 
21 


322  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

Chiircli  disgraced,  and  God  dishonored  bj  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  wicked  to  rule  over  men  anywhere.  But 
it  is  simply  shameful,  and  a  denial  of  God's  authorily, 
to  elect  sinners  to  rule  over  a  Christian  people. 

Well  was  it  for  woman  and  tlie  cause  of  her  educa- 
tion that  it  could  truly  be  said  of  Lawrence,  "  Thou 
art  come  to  the  kingdom  for  such  a  time  as  this." 
There  was  one  who  closely  followed  him  in  that  seat 
of  power  who,  had  the  great  work  not  been  done  be- 
fore he  came,  would,  I  fear,  have  utterly  ignored  it, 
and  the  opportunity  might  have  been  lost  for  a  gen- 
eration to  come.  But  when  God's  hour  of  mercy 
arrived,  and  the  other  favoring  circumstances  were  in 
concurrence,  the  man  was  there  too,  as  God's  honored 
agent,  to  give  effect  to  the  benevolent  purpose  of  the 
Almighty. 

8.  There  was  a  suddenness  in  this  amazing  change 
that  surprised  us  all ;  and  as  the  new  situation  com- 
mended itself  so  extensively  to  the  judgment  of  every 
one  who  desired  to  see  the  women  of  India  elevated, 
a  great  difficulty  began  to  develop  itself — one  that 
was  so  serious  that  some  feared  and  became  anxious 
lest  the  benevolent  intentions  of  the  government 
should  be  shipwrecked  upon  it.  There  arose  an  ap- 
prehension that  they  had  created  a  demand  beyond 
their  ability  to  supply  it,  and  that  the  whole  of  thoj 
precious  prospect  was  in  danger  of  being  lost !  The 
government  was  asked  by  the  nobles,  who  had  ac- 
cepted  the    proposition   of  educating   the  ladies  of 


From  Boston  to  Bareillt.  323 

their  families,  who  was  to  give  the  education  which 
they  had  consented  to  accept?  They  reminded  the 
government  it  could  not  be  received  from  any  agency 
but  a  female  one.  No  man  could  enter  those  zenana 
homes,  even  to  save  life,  and  if  education  was  to  en- 
ter there  a  woman  must  bring  it.  Where  were  the 
educated  w^omen  to  be  found  to  do  this  work  ?  The 
question  puzzled  the  government.  In  fact,  they  had 
not  realized  this  difficulty  or  how  it  w^as  to  be  met, 
and  they  were  at  a  loss  for  a  proper  answer.  They 
could  only  reply  that  they  would  give  tlie  question 
their  earnest  consideration,  and  see  wiiat  could  be 
done  to  meet  the  demand  which  they  had  created. 
The  proposition  was  discussed  to  advertise  for  teach- 
ers in  England,  who  would  go  out  to  India,  learn  the 
language,  and  give  themselves  to  this  work  for  a  series 
of  years.  I  suppose  the  effort  was  made,  but  I  have 
yet  to  leani  that  it  was  responded  to,  or  that  any  such 
teachers  went  out  to  impart  secular  instruction. 
Worldly  women  could  not  be  induced  to  go  to  In- 
dia, endure  the  climate,  learn  the  language,  and  de- 
vote their  lives  to  work  of  this  kind,  merely  under 
the  lure  of  a  good  salar}^,  and  a  pension  after  so  many 
years  of  toil — for  such  the  Indian  government  gives 
to  all  its  servants.  Had  the  government  been  shut 
up  to  secular  women,  moved  by  secular  motives,  then 
Lord  Lawrence's  generous  hopes  must  have  largely 
failed,  and  Sir  Charles  Wood's  education  measure 
been  of  little  worth  in  India.     There  was  a  pause 


324  From  Boston  to  Bareillt. 

here,  and  men  waited  to  see  what  could  be  done  to 
meet  the  emergency. 

9.  And  now,  when  so  much  needed,  came  forth  the 
last  of  these  golden  links  to  draw  together  and  vital- 
ize all  the  others,  combining  them  in  a  vast  aggre- 
gate of  good,  the  effects  of  which  will  live  forever.  We 
read  that,  "  When  the  fullness  of  the  time  was  come, 
God  sent  forth  his  Son,  made  of  a  woman,  made  under 
the  law,  to  redeem  them  that  were  under  the  law,  that 
we  might  receive  the  adoption  of  sons ; "  so,  as  1869 
approached,  and  the  success  of  the  great  hope  that 
had  been  awakened  in  the  heart  of  India  for  the  en- 
lightenment of  one  sixth  of  all  the  women  on  earth 
(hidden  away  in  the  secluded  homes  of  that  land),  as 
well  as  for  women  in  all  unevangelized  climes,  God 
revealed  the  agency  that  he  had  in  reserve  to  meet 
the  emergency  and  to  complete  his  plan.  The  Wom- 
an^ s  Foreign  Missionary  Societies  were  organized  ; 
organized  "  in  the  fullness  of  time,"  when  the  zenana 
doors  were  at  last  opening,  when  the  government  was 
ready  to  welcome  them  gladly,  when  the  appropriate 
native  female  agency  required  had  been  made  ready 
to  help  them,  when  the  requisite  funds  were  available 
for  their  schools  and  orphanages,  and  when  the  field 
was  all  their  own  and  every  obstacle  had  been  re- 
moved out  of  the  way  of  their  work  and  usefulness  ; 
then  they  came,  with  loving  hearts  and  gentle  hands, 
to  render  this  new  and  peculiar  service  which  they 
alone  could  accomplish. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  325 

How  timely  it  was  all  arranged !  Had  they  come 
earlier  the  value  of  their  work  could  not  have  been 
so  evident  as  it  was  when  it  became  so  manifest  that 
they  would  do  this  service  for  their  sisterhood  in 
India — not  for  secular  gain,  but  for  love — "the  love 
of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge."  Their  disinter- 
ested devotion  carried  with  it  a  power  for  good  which 
told  at  once  and  wonderfully  with  the  hearts  which 
they  were  to  benefit.  And  again,  had  they  come 
earlier,  the  requisite  agency  of  educated  girls  to  aid 
them,  and  whose  labors  they  were  to  direct  (thus 
multiplying  their  own  power  and  usefulness),  would 
not  have  been  ready  for  them.  How  wonderfully 
each  portion  of  the  divine  plan  fitted  to  the  others, 
and  what  an  important  part  that  female  Orphanage 
was  to  bear  in  the  great  work,  may  be  illustrated  in 
a  single  fact.  Miss  Clara  Swain  was  the  first  female 
physician  sent  by  any  ladies'  society  to  the  East. 
There  was  great  interest  excited  in  Bareilly  by  the 
announcement  of  her  coming.  Many  ladies  in  its 
zenana  homes,  languishing  for  the  help  which  her 
healing  art  would  afford  them,  impatiently  await- 
ed her  arrival.  It  was  wonderful  to  those  heathen 
women  that  she  should  leave  her  home  and  native 
land  and  cross  the  world  to  bring  health  and  healing 
to  them;  and  all  this,  not  for  gain  or  worldly  motive, 
but  for  love  and  good- will.  They  had  never  heard 
or  imagined  any  thing  so  gracious  and  disinterested 
as  this  was.     At  length  she  arrived,  but  felt  sad  over 


326  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

the  tlioiiglit  that  she  should  have  so  long  to  wait  ere 
she  could  begin  her  benevolent  work  in  their  homes 
of  suffering,  for  want  of  the  language.  It  seemed  as 
though  two  years  must  elapse  ere  she  could  acquire 
that  and  be  able  to  commence  her  practice.  But 
how  delighted  she  was  to  be  told  by  Mrs.  Thomas 
that  she  need  not  delay  one  day  in  responding  to  the 
eager  calls  for  her  help.  Several  of  the  graduating 
class  in  the  Girls'  Orphanage  had  been  trained  in  a 
knowledge  of  the  English  language,  and  she  had  only 
to  select  the  girl  she  preferred  from  among  them  who 
would  thus  become  her  companion  and  interpreter, 
and  at  once  commence  her  blessed  work.  This  she 
did,  and  so,  only  a  few  hours  after  her  arrival  in  Ba- 
reilly she  was  fulfilling  her  mission  as  a  medical  lady 
in  those  zenana  homes. 

The  fact  was  so  suggestive  that  she  not  only  went 
on  with  her  practice,  but  also  took  ^ve  members  of 
that  class  and  commenced  a  course  of  medical  instruc- 
tion with  them  that  in  three  years  enabled  her  to  offer 
the  class  for  the  consideration  of  the  government  au- 
thorities, who  had  them  examined,  and  they  were 
voted  license  to  practice  as  medical  women.  Another 
class  was  trained  by  Dr.  Humphrey,  and  yet  another 
by  Dr.  Dease.  So  that  about  eighteen  of  our  girls 
have  already  been  qualified  as  medical  practitioners. 
The  value  of  this  single  fact,  as  a  result  of  that  Or- 
phanage, in  such  a  land  (where  a  lady  would  rather 
die  than  permit  a  male  physician  to  enter  her  pres- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  32  T 

ence),  will  be  appreciated  by  my  readers,  and  calls  for 
most  devout  gratitude  to  Him,  whose  blessed  sugges- 
tion originated  that  institution,  and  who  had  in  view 
all  the  good,  temporal  and  spiritual,  that  it  was  capa- 
ble of  accomplishing  for  the  millions  around  them. 

High  and  low,  rich  and  poor  alike,  have  been  led 
to  appreciate  the  disinterested  devotion  illustrated 
here.  What  thousands  of  suffering  women  have  been 
helped  by  the  dispensary  and  the  hospital  there  estab- 
lished we  shall  know  w^hen  the  report  is  presented. 
The  highest  testimony  to  its  value  and  effectiveness 
was  given  when  the  Nawab  of  Rampore,  voluntarily 
and  unasked,  presented  his  Bareilly  palace  and 
grounds  a  gift  to  our  mission,  in  order  to  furnish  to 
Hiss  Swain  a  woman's  hospital,  adequate  in  conveni- 
ence and  extent  for  the  work  she  was  doing  for  his 
countrywomen. 

But  here  we  must  pause,  for  we  are  approaching 
Bareilly  in  that  railway  train  from  Lucknow.  All 
these  reflections,  and  many  more  which  centered 
there,  had  been  occupying  our  thoughts  during  the 
five  hours  that  we  rushed  on  toward  it.  Of  course  the 
Theological  Seminary,  and  Training  School  as  well, 
came  in  for  their  share  of  remembrance,  as  our  ador- 
ing gratitude  ascended  to  God  for  what  we  were 
about  to  see  in  such  effectiveness ;  while,  in  tender 
reminiscence,  there  rose  up  that  pathetic  fact  of  Ma- 
ria's martyrdom  and  what  had  come  of  it.  The  very 
ground  where  she  resided  I  had  secured  by  purchase 


328  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

when  Havelock's  victories  enabled  me  to  return  to 
Bareilly.  The  Female  Orphanage  of  our  Church  stands 
on  the  site  of  her  home  and  the  little  garden  around 
it.  So  that  on  the  very  ground  where  she  used  to  tread, 
and  where  she  so  often  knelt  to  pray  for  the  coming  of 
the  Gospel  to  her  country,  hundreds  of  Christian  girls 
have  been  raised  up  to  aid  the  work  she  loved  so  well. 

And  this  is  but  the  beginning.  That  the  blood  of 
His  martyrs  has  been  the  seed  of  his  Church  is  true 
in  this  case,  also,  and  with  a  wonderful  emphasis. 
This  humble  and  gentle  girl,  of  whom  Bareilly  was 
not  worthy,  did  not  die  in  vain.  She  was  inheritor 
of  the  promise,  that  "•  the  little  one  shall  become  a 
thousand."  God  is  guaranteeing  the  literal  fulfillment 
of  the  prediction  ;  for  already  more  than  one  fourth 
of  that  number  of  her  race  and  sex  have  there  become 
the  followers  of  her  Saviour — a  goodly  company  of 
whom,  as  we  shall  learn  a  few  pages  farther  on,  are 
now  fully  employed  in  the  promotion  of  the  blessed 
cause  to  which  she  was  willing  to  give  her  service, 
but  had,  instead,  to  give  her  life !  But,  if  this  is  the 
result  reached  at  the  end  of  the  first  quarter  of  a 
century,  can  there  be  reasonable  doubt  that,  ere  the 
second  quarter  closes,  the  predicted  "  thousand  "  will 
not  only  be  reached,  but  will  "  overflow  with  riglit- 
eousness,"  in  a  consummation  of  glorious  power 
through  all  that  valley  ? 

Such  were  the  thoughts  which  filled  our  souls  and 
banished  sleep  during  those  midnight  hours  as  we  swept 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  329 

tlirongh  the  towns  and  villages  of  that  Gangetic  Yalley, 
on  our  way  from  Lucknow  to  Bareilly.  The  clear  silver 
light  of  the  moon  enabled  us  to  realize  where  we  were 
at  every  stopping-place,  and  it  was  delightful  to  re- 
alize how  many  of  them  had  already  the  Methodist 
pastor,  and  a  place  of  worship  and  school  established, 
with  a  little  body  of  Christian  believers,  letting  their 
light  shine  amid  the  deep  darkness  of  a  venerable 
and  popular  idolatry.  When  I  left  India,  eighteen 
years  ago,  only  nine  of  the  larger  cities  had  been  oc- 
cupied, and  about  as  many  more  of  the  intervening 
places.  But  now,  such  has  been  the  divine  blessing 
on  the  toil  of  our  missionaries,  I  find  nearly  all  the 
important  towns  are  linked  in  with  the  large  cities, 
and  our  Methodism  has  a  standing  in  not  less  than 
one  hundred  and  fifty  towns  and  cities  within  the 
bounds  of  the  I^orth  India  Conference ;  a  steady  gain 
of  more  than  seven  points  every  year  since  the  or- 
ganization of  the  mission.  It  would  not  be  easy  to 
find  a  parallel  to  such  extension  in  any  single  mis- 
sion, even  in  this  age  of  progress.  To  God  be  all  the 
glory  ! 

For  nearly  five  glorious  hours  that  night  sleep  was 
out  of  the  question.  We  were  approaching  Bareilly, 
and  our  poor  hearts  were  thrilling  with  the  thought 
how  much  the  light  of  the  next  day  would  disclose 
to  our  delighted  vision  !  We  had  crossed  the  world 
to  reach  this  blessed  center,  and  now  it  was  close  at 
hand — only  an  hour  more — for  some  gong  had  just 


330  Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

struck  "  two  o'clock."  But  just  here  poor  tired  nature 
began  to  give  out,  and  imperatively  demanded  a  short 
nap.  As  the  irresistible  drowsiness  crept  over  me, 
the  last  thought  was,  ''  How  shall  I  manage  about 
our  luggage?  I  understand  it  is  a  full  mile  from 
the  station  to  the  mission.  We  can  easily  walk  that 
distance  in  the  lovely  moonlight  if  there  is  only  some 
way  by  which  the  luggage  can  come  along."  We 
had  not  dreamed  of  any  reception,  especially  in  the 
middle  of  the  night ;  so,  with  this  little  anxiety  I  sank 
off  into  a  weary  doze,  which  seemed  not  to  have  lasted 
more  than  ten  minutes,  when  it  was  suddenly  broken 
by  the  whistle  of  the  engine ;  and  rising  to  my  feet, 
I  knew  we  were  approaching  Bareilly.  Immediately 
the  train  ran  rapidly  into  the  siding,  and  the  end  of 
the  platform  was  reached — when,  lo  !  something  that 
seemed  like  a  white  wall,  about  five  feet  high,  stood  on 
the  outer  edge,  and  before  I  could  recover  my  sleepy 
surprise  that  they  should  put  a  wall  there  to  keep 
people  from  landing,  "  the  wall "  began  to  show 
streaks  up  and  down,  and  as  the  rapid  movement  be- 
came more  controlled,  the  "  streaks  "  defined  them- 
selves into  a  row  of  girls,  in  their  usual  white  raiment, 
extending  from  one  end  of  the  platform  to  the  other. 
It  was  our  dear  orphan  girls — all  of  the  two  hundred 
and  eighty  that  were  old  enough  and  could  walk  so 
far  and  keep  awake  so  long — who  had  requested  Miss 
Fanny  Sparkes  to  allow  them  to  come  up  to  meet" 
and  welcome  once  more  to  Bareilly  ''  The  Father  and 


From  Boston  to  Barp:illy.  331 

Mother  of  the  Mission  !  "  Behind  the  girls  stood  tlie 
theological  students,  the  missionary  families,  and  a 
number  of  the  members  of  the  Church.  In  front 
of  all  stood  Miss  Sparkes,  and  the  moment  they  saw 
,our  faces,  and  realized  that  we  were  in  the  train,  there 
rose,  to  the  tune  of  "  Old  Hundred/'  the  doxology,  in 
their  own  language : 

"  Tin  ek  Khuda  jo  la-mafriiq 
Hamd  us  ki-karo  sab  makliluq 
Asmanio,  zamiuio! 
Bap,  Bete,  Riih  ki  hamd  karo  I  " 

Not  till  we  are  hailed  by  the  \raiting  ones  on 
"  the  golden  strand,"  shall  we  again  behold  any  thing 
as  blessed  as  was  that  group  of  welcome,  so  radiant  in 
the  lovely  moonlight,  with  their  doxology  of  joy 
rising  upon  the  night  air  to  heaven  ! 

How  small,  how  formal  and  fleeting,  seemed  any 
of  the  honors  that  this  world  confers  compared  with 
this  simple,  hearty,  and  holy  welcome  at  Bareilly ! 
Onr  fellow-passengers  woke  up,  and  asked,  in  amaze- 
ment, "  What  does  all  this  mean  ?  A  concrre^ation 
at  a  station  in  the  middle  of  the  night  singing  the 
Christian  doxology !  "  And  they  gazed  out  upon  the 
hallowed  scene  with  increasing  surprise.  But  we 
had  no  time  to  answer  their  inquiries.  We  were  too 
deeply  engaged  trying  to  have  the  door  opened  and 
get  out  among  that  company,  whose  loving  hands  and 
hearts  were  so  eager  to  hail  and  welcome  us  1  No 
wonder  Mrs.  Butler,  after  enthusiastically  embracing 


332  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

that  long  line  of  precious  girls,  stood  still  and  cried 
for  excess  of  joy  and  gratitude.  It  was  all  such  a 
contrast  to  the  days  gone  by,  when  she  and  others,  in 
distress  of  soul,  made  those  earnest  efforts  to  reach 
and  teach  even  half  a  .dozen  girls  in  this  city,  and* 
could  not  do  it — had  to  give  it  up  in  despair  and  sit 
down  and  weep  over  the  failure ! 

And  now,  here  was  this  happy  crowd  of  Christian 
girls  welcoming  her  into  the  same  Barielly  with  a 
doxology  of  joy  !  "  What  hath  God  wrought ! '' 
After  a  multitude  of  congratulations  we  were  re- 
leased, and  our  kind  entertainers,  Brother  and  Sister 
Thomas,  carried  us  off  to  their  comfortable  home, 
where  welcome  rest  awaited  us.  But  how  grateful 
was  the  prayer  that  we  offered  to  God  that  night  for 
all  the  mercies  of  this  journey,  and  for  the  blessing 
and  the  joy  with  which  it  had  just  been  crowned ! 

Next  day  they  had  a  formal  reception  for  us  in  the 
Girls'  Orphanage,  having  done  all  they  could  to  make 
it  interesting  and  delightful.  It  was  the  brightest 
sight  we  had  ever  seen  in  India — that  precious  group 
of  Christian  girls,  two  hundred  and  eighty-four  in 
number — all  so  neat  and  happy,  who,  together  with 
their  instructors,  the  mission  families  and  visitors, 
filled  the  entire  hall.  The  dark  eyes  of  the  orphan 
girls  were  lustrous  with  interest,  and  gleamed  out  the 
grateful  feelings  that  evidently  filled  their  hearts. 
The  occasion  was  evidently  an  event  in  their  lives — as 
it  certainly  was  in  our  own — and  one  never  to  be  for- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  333 

gotten  by  either  party.      After  devotional  services 
they  sang  sweetly  several  of  their  hymns,  such  as 

"  I  need  thee  every  hour, 
Most  gracious  Lord,"  etc.; 
and, 

"  His  name  yields  tlie  richest  perfume, 
And  sweeter  tlian  music  his  voice,"  etc. 

It  was  delightful  to  reflect  that  so  many  of  them 
were  siniJ^ins:  these  estatic  words  from  a  heartfelt  real- 
ization  of  their  meaning.  Miss  Sparkes  was  presid- 
ing, and  Mrs.  Butler  and  myself  had  been  seated  in 
the  posts  of  honor.  A  Imsh,  and  the  manifestations 
of  an  intense  interest  began  to  steal  over  the  assem- 
bly. It  was  evident  that  something  more  than 
ordinary  was  about  to  occur.  Amid  this  solemn 
attention,  one  of  the  teachers  stepped  out  into  the 
center  aisle.  She  was  one  of  the  original  hundred  and 
fifty  orphans,  and  is  retained  as  a  leading  teacher. 
How  sweet  and  precious  she  looked  !  Controlling  her 
own  emotions,  she  proceeded  to  give,  in  her  own  lan- 
guage, the  address  of  welcome  on  behalf  of  the  orig- 
inal number,  as  well  as  of  all  who  were  then  present, 
expressing  their  gratitude  to  God  and  to  us  for  all 
that  had  been  done  to  make  them  what  they  were 
that  day,  and  expressing  gratefully  their  appreciation 
of  the  tender  affection  which  led  us,  so  voluntarily 
and  without  any  official  obligation,  and  even  in  our 
old  age,  to  cross  the  world  to  see  theTYi  once  more.  It 
was  accepted  by  them  as  one  of  the  highest  instances 
that  they  had  ever  known  of  Christian  love ;  they  be- 


834  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

lieved  it  could  have  been  prompted  only  by  the  great 
love  of  the  precious  Saviour,  who  died  for  them. 

When  she  had  concluded,  there  stepped  out  three 
little  ones — the  leader  of  them,  perhaps  nine  years  old 
or  less,  advanced  toward  us,  the  other  two  behind  her, 
bearing  something  covered  up  on  a  tray ;  all  evident- 
ly feeling  the  importance  of  what  they  had  to  do  on 
behalf  of  the  rest.  The  little  tot  advanced  till  she 
stood  right  before  us,  and  then,  with  wonderful  self- 
conmiand,  she  said : 

"  Sahib  and  raemsahib,  salam  (peace  be  unto  you.) 
I  have  been  selected  by  the  school  to  oEer  you  our 
nuzzar  (a  gift  of  honor  and  affection)  because,  sahib, 
I  am  the  orphan  child  of  the  first  orphan  girl  you 
took  up.  The  name  you  gave  my  mother  was  Al- 
mira  Blake.  She  lived  to  grow  up  and  be  educated, 
and  became  a  Christian,  and  was  married  to  a  preach- 
er. My  mother  died  three  years  ago,  and  my  father 
last  year,  and  I  was  left  alone,  and  they  took  me  in 
here  for  my  mother's  sake.  So,  sahib,  this  is  the  rea- 
son why  they  selected  me  to  present  the  offering  of 
their  love  and  gratitude  to  you  and  to  the  mem  sahib." 

Before  I  state  what  she  did,  let  me  refer  to  her 
first  words.  How  well  I  remember  when,  in  T^ovem- 
ber,  1858,  divine  Providence  placed  in  my  hands  the 
first  female  orphan  we  ever  received.  She  was  a 
poor,  weak,  little  creature,  blind  of  one  eye,  and  plain 
featured— certailily  no  beauty — but  she  was  a  girl^ 
and  she  was  all  our  own  to  rear  for  Jesus  and  his 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  335 

Cliurcli.  We  rejoiced  over  her,  and  felt  she  was  a 
precious  charge  for  India's  sake.  Dear  sainted  Mrs. 
Pierce  cherished  her  with  a  mother's  love.  This  was 
our  first  female  orplian,  and  she  lived  to  grow  up,  to 
experience  religion  and  become  a  teacher,  and  a  use- 
ful woman,  and  was  sought  in  marriage  bj  one  of  our 
native  preachers.  She  did  well  in  this  relation,  and 
when  her  early  death  occurred,  she  died  comforted 
by  the  presencQ  of  her  Eedeemer.  And  now  here 
was  her  little  orphan  daughter  standing  before  us, 
speaking  for  her  mother  and  all  the  rest,  so  simply 
and  gratefully! 

Turning  round,  the  little  one  then  beckoned  with 
her  finger,  and  the  other  two  advanced  to  her  side, 
and  the  tray  was  uncovered,  and  there  were  the  lov- 
ing gifts  of  the  dear  girls,  wrouglit  with  their  skillful 
fingers— a  pair  of  elegant  satin  sofa  pillows,  all 
worked  over  with  flowers,  amid  which  were  entwined 
the  beautiful  forget-me-nots,  and  marguerites.  Lift- 
ing one  of  them  on  her  left  hand  she  pointed  with 
the  other  at  me,  and  said,  "  Now,  sahib,  when  you 
return  home  and  feel  weary,  you  are  to  lay  your  head 
on  this  and  think  of  us  girls,"  and  in  her  simplicity 
she  bent  down  her  little  head  to  the  pillow,  as  if  to 
show  how  it  was  to  be  done.  Then  she  lifted  the 
other  and  pointed  to  Mrs.  B.,  and  repeated  her  di- 
rections. Worked  slippers  were  then  presented 
and  particularized.  Last  of  all  were  lifted  a  pair  of 
elegant  satin  caps,  w^orked  in  tlie  same  style  as  the 


336  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

pillows,  and  after  speaking  of  mine,  she  took  up  the 
other,  and  said,  "  And  now,  sahib,  when  we  had  fin- 
ished that  for  you,  we  remembered  your  love  for 
good  Brother  Joel^  your  first  helper,  who  has  been  so 
faithful,  and  we  thought  it  would  gratify  you  if  we 
made  another  for  him,  and  have  you  put  it  on  his 
head.  He  is  blind  now,  sahib,  and  wont  be  able  to 
see  you,  but  it  will  be  so  nice  for  you  to  put  it 
upon  his  head  when  you  meet  him  soon  at  Chan- 
dausi ! " 

All  this  was  done  with  a  natural  grace  and  sim- 
plicity so  charming  that  it  won  every  heart  as  well 
as  ours,  and  the  little  one  was  congratulated  on  all 
sides,  as  she  resumed  her  seat,  for  the  skill  with  which 
she  had  conducted  the  presentations  on  their  behalf. 
How  amply  repaid  was  the  toilsome  journey  by  the 
events  and  emotions  of  this  glad  reception  ! 

Being  anxious  to  present  to  the  Church,  and  espe- 
cially to  those  w^ho  have  been  patrons  of  these  dear 
girls  during  the  past  twenty-four  years  the  results  of 
that  Orphanage  to  the  cause  of  Christ  in  India  (so 
far  as  these  results  can  be  traced  in  figures),  I  had 
brought  with  me  my  own  lists  and  correspondence, 
that  I  miglit  have  the  help  which  Mrs.  Thomas  and 
Miss  Sparkes  and  others  there  could  give,  in  ascer- 
taining how  fully  the  anticipations  concerning  the  Or- 
phanage have  been  realized,  and  the  prayers  offered  on 
its  behalf  have  been  answered.  I  made  the  same  effort 
on  behalf  of  the  Boys'  Orphanage;   and   since  my 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  337 

return  have  liad  to  conduct  an  extensive  correspond- 
ence, in  order  to  obtain  the  further  accuracy  that  was 
so  necessary  to  reach  the  facts  as  fully  as  it  was  possi- 
ble to  do  so. 

I  have  been  able  to  trace  nearly  one  hundred  and 
thirty  of  the  original  orphan  girls  through  their 
school  days,  and  after  they  left  the  Orphanage,  to 
their  present  position.  If  my  readers  will  refer  to 
the  description  of  these  girls  as  they  were  laid  down 
at  our  door  twenty- four  years  ago  (commencing  on 
page  309),  they  can  then  fully  appreciate  the  wonderful 
significance  of  the  results  which  I  now  present,  as  to 
how  they  turned  out  and  what  they  became — what 
Christian  education  and  divine  grace  have  made  out 
of  that  helpless  group  of  misery  and  degradation. 

Of  that  original  band  of  orphan  girls  the  records 
before  me  show  that  they  became  : 

Medical  Practitioners 8 

Dispensary  and  Hospital  Assistants 5 

Sciiool  Teachers  and  Zenana  Visitors 28 

Others,  married,  Colporteurs 3 

"         School  Teachers 14. 

"         Exhorters 5 

"         Local  Preachers  employed  in  the  work 14 

*         Members  of  Conference 10 

A  total  of  Christian  Workers  numbering  eighty-seven,  and 
connected  officially  with  the  agency  of  our  mission  for  the  evan- 
gelization of  the  country. 

In  addition  to  these,  the  number  who  married  into  secular  life, 
but  to  Christian  men,  members  of  our  churches  and  congre- 
gations, who  are  tradesmen,  farmers,  servants,  etc.,  amount  to     37 

Making  an  ascertained  total  of * 124 

22 


338  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

The  difference  between  this  and  the  original  num- 
ber is  accounted  for  by  death,  removals,  etc.  Some 
of  these  deaths  have  beo-un  to  be  recorded  amons: 
tlie  "  Memoirs  "  in  the  Minutes  of  the  North  India 
Conference.  Two  such  appeared  last  year.  Those 
of  Helen,  wife  of  Rev.  Ambica  Charn  Paul;  and 
Mary  Wheeler,  wife  of  Rev.  T.  W.  Greenwold.  The 
latter  was  among  those  trained  by  Miss  Swain  as  lady 
doctors.  The  record  of  both,  as  wives  of  native  pas- 
tors, is  honorable,  and  their  deaths  were  triumphant. 

Having  traced  the  history  of  the  original  band  of 
orphans  as  far  as  it  was  possible  to  do  so,  I  then 
requested  Miss  Sparkes  to  furnish  me  with  an  abstract 
of  the  names  and  history  of  the  girls  which  have 
come  into  her  care  during  the  twelve  years  that  the 
Orphanage  has  been  under  her  control,  so  as  to  com- 
plete our  view  of  the  value  and  results  of  the  institu- 
tion to  our  mission  during  the  twenty-four  years  of 
its  existence.  This  she  did,  and  closed  her  commu- 
nication with  the  cheering  statement :  "  Of  the  125 
girls  who  have  gone  forth  from  this  Orphanage  since 
I  assumed  charge  of  it,  I  find  that  101  are  to-day 
engaged  in  Christian  work  in  the  mission."  This  is 
a  wonderful  record.  So,  coml)ining  the  earlier  and 
later  bands  of  orphan  girls,  tlie  following  is  the  re- 
sult to  Christianity. 

The  Bareilly  Orphanage  has  given  to  our  mission 
within  the  period  named  the  following  band  of  cult- 
ured helpers : 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  339 

Medical  Women 16 

Assistants  in  Dispensaries  and  Hospitals 7 

JSciiool  and  Zenana  Teachers 56 

Wives  of  Colporteurs 6 

Wives  of  Exhorters 8 

Wives  of  School  Teachers 32 

Wives  of  Local  Preachers  employed  in  the  work 39 

Wives  of  Members  of  Conference 18 

A  total  of  Christian  Workers 181 

Besides  this,  it  has  furnished  wives  to  Christian 
farmers,  tradesmen,  etc.,  78  ;  a  grand  total  of  259 
Christian  women,  leaving  about  50  of  the  309  re- 
ceived to  be  accounted  for  by  deaths,  removals,  etc. 
May  it  not  be  humbly,  but  gratefully,  asked  whether, 
in  the  history  of  Christian  orphanages,  there  ever  has 
l)een  a  result  which  calls  for  deeper  gratitude  to  God 
than  this  exhibit  presents  to  the  women  of  our 
Church?  How  their  prayers  have  been  answered 
and  their  liberality  rewarded  is  manifest  in  this  won- 
derful outcome,  which  will,  I  am  sure,  lead  thousands 
of  loving  and  grateful  hearts  to  be  "  abundant  also  by 
many  thanksgivings  unto  God." 

Who  can  calculate  the  results  to  Christianity  and 
the  future  which  these  259  girls  have  secured  to  our 
mission  ?  If  any  one  asks  why  I,  the  founder  of  the 
missions  of  the  parent  Board,  have  given  so  much  of 
this  narrative  to  trace  the  origin  and  history  of  this 
institution,  I  need  only  answer  him  by  requesting 
that  he  will  pause  and  think  what  would  have  been 
to-day  the  condition  of  our  mission  in  India  without 


340  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

that  Orphanage.  Let  him  turn  back  to  page  225,  and 
read  tliat  and  the  three  pages  following.  He  can 
then  imagine  the  aspect  which  the  work  of  the  parent 
Board  would  present  to-day  in  the  Gangetic  Valley  to 
any  one  who  visited  it.  Take  a  single  item,  our  na- 
tive ministry ;  what  would  they  have  ever  been  to  our 
work  with  no  wives,  or  only  heathen  ones  ?  But  this 
institution  has  furnished  cultivated  and  converted 
wives  to  sixty  of  their  number ;  the  educated  daugh- 
ters of  the  first  married  have  furnished  a  few  more 
lately,  while  others  are  under  training,  and  are  grad- 
uating year  after  year  '*  help  meets,"  indeed,  for  our 
rising  ministry.  Some  of  these  precious  ones  have 
already  passed  away.  Let  me  here  present  a  sample 
of  this  class  of  helpers  which  the  Orphanage  has 
turned  out,  taking  one  of  the  fi  rst,  who  died  last  year, 
and  giving  the  substance  of  the  "  memoir"  which  the 
Conference  committee  presented,  and  which  was 
published  in  their  Annual  Minutes  : 

"Mrs.  Helen  M.  Paul. 
"  Helen  M'Gregor,  the  beloved  wife  of  our  brother 
Bev.  A.  C.  Paul,  was  born  about  1846.  Left  an  or- 
phan at  a  very  early  age,  she  was  taken  by  the  gov- 
ernment authorities,  and,  at  the  close  of  the  Mutiny, 
in  1858,  was  made  over  to  our  mission  in  Lucknow 
for  care  and  education.  She  remained  in  the  Girls' 
Orphanage,  after  its  removal  to  Bareilly,  acting  as 
pupil-teacher,  until,  in  1863,  she  was  united  in  mar- 


From  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  341 

riage  with  Brother  Ambica  Charn  Paul,  being  the 
first  of  a  long  line  of  girls  to  go  out  from  our  Orphan- 
age to  form  new  homes  throughout  all  iNTorth  India. 
Her  marriage  was  ariiappy  one,  and  she  was  the  wor- 
thy, loving  mother  of  live  daughters  and  two  sons. 

"Sister  Paul  died  at  Barabanki,  October  8,  1883, 
after  many  months  of  suffering  and  prostration.  She 
triumphed  in  her  dying  hour,  and  so  well  prepared 
was  she,  and  so  willing  to  depart,  even  though  her 
family  was  so  dear  to  her,  and  she  loved  her  mission 
work,  that  death  to  her  was  more  a  translation  than 
the  gloomy  thing  so  often  feared  and  pictured.  For 
lier,  death  had  lost  its  sting  and  the  grave  its  victory. 
She  was  an  earnest  Christian,  a  kind  and  loving  wife 
and  mother,  a  faithful  and  successful  worker  among 
the  women  of  her  husband's  parish,  a  hospitable 
friend  and  neighbor,  careful  to  entertain  strangers, 
and,  having  finished  the  work  given  her  to  do,  has 
gone  to  receive  an  unfading  crown  beyond  these 
scenes  of  toil  and  suffering." 

Without  these  precious  girls  we  could  have  had  no 
work  among  the  w^omen,  no  female  hospitals,  no  ze- 
nana visitation  or  girls'  schools,  no  Christian  homes, 
no  equalized  congregations,  and  no  perfect  social 
Christianity.  They  have  crowned  the  work  of  the 
parent  Board,  and  have  been  the  leading  influence 
of  its  wide  extension.  May  God's  rich  blessing  ever 
rest  upon  all  who  responded  to  my  appeal  from 
that  Dewanee-Khass,  and  aided  in  the  origin  of  this 


342  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

invaluable  institution,  as  well  as  upon  those  who 
have  since  given  their  sympathy  and  help  for  its 
present  development.  Precious  girls  !  when  I  looked 
upon  them  last  year,  in  all  their  intelligence,  Chris- 
tian culture,  and  usefulness,  and  remembered  what 
they  were  saved  from  (though  probably  not  one  of 
them  is  aware  of  the  fearful  vortex  on  the  margin 
of  which  she  was  floating  away  so  helplessly  twenty- 
four  years  ago),  how  grateful  I  became!  I  could 
not  but  realize  that,  if  my  humble  life  has  never 
been  of  any  other  use  to  the  world  than  this  one 
result,  I  could  go  down  to  the  grave  forever  grateful, 
that  to  me  was  given  the  opportunity  of  saving  these 
poor  Hindu  girls  for  the  blessed  and  happy  position 
which  they  occupy  to-day. 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  343 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

*'  That  day  shall  dawn  1  Its  calm  and  hallowed  rest 

Shall  emblem  l)ere  the  Sabbath  of  the  blest. 

Though  lingering:  clouds  obstruct  the  glorious  light, 

Tliougli  wrathful  foes  withstand  Messiah's  might, 

Tlie  trembling  captives  cast  their  bonds  away, 

And  spring  to  light,  and  bless  the  opening  day. 

His  mild  evangelists  His  way  prepare ; 

His  living  word  Messiah's  heralds  bear ; 

Tlirough  heathen  lands  the  Gospel  trumpet  sounds, 

'Gainst  Antichrist's  unhallowed  throne  rebounds, 

Dissolves  dark  Superstition's  direful  spell, 

Assails  the  atheist  sophistry  of  hell, 

Lays  Babel's  towering  turrets  in  the  dust, 

And  bids  the  poor  in  boundless  mercy  trust." — Mks.  Bulmer. 

It  was  a  great  privilege  to  be  in  time  to  attend  the 
closing  exercises  of  our  Theological  Seminary.  I 
had  watched  its  founding  and  development  with  the 
deepest  interest,  and  now  to  be  present  and  witness 
the  graduation  of  its  students,  as  they  went  forth 
equipped  for  their  great  work,  became  one  of  the 
highest  privileges  of  this  extraordinary  jonrney.  No 
land  needs  a  trained  ministry  more  than  India  does, 
and  it  is  certainly  to  the  credit  of  our  Church  that 
she  possesses  this  efficient  Methodist  theological 
school  in  this  geographical  center  of  her  North  India 
territory. 

A  few  facts  in  regard  to  its  history  (furnished  by 
Kev.  Dr.  Scott,  the  theological  tutor)  will  be  of  in- 


344  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

terest.  For  fourteen  years  tliey  had  no  regular 
method  of  training  native  preacliers.  This  was  left 
mainly  to  the  individual  effort  of  the  missionaries. 
They  had  something  of  an  Annual  and  District  Con- 
ference course  of  study  marked  out,  but  at  best  such 
courses  could  not  be  made  effective.  The  need  of  a 
theological  school  pressed  upon  them.  In  1872  the 
India  Conference  availed  itself  of  a  generous  offer 
from  Rev.  D.  W.  Thomas,  a  member  of  the  Confer- 
ence, and  a  theological  seminary  was  inaugurated. 
Providentially  Brother  Thomas  had  money  and  was 
able  to  give  $20,000  toward  the  seminary.  This  was 
for  the  endowment  of  scholarships ;  as  the  first  con- 
sideration was  something  with  which  to  sustain  the 
students  who  were  ready  to  be  trained.  Their  pupils 
being  without  home  or  friends,  or  support  as  Chris- 
tians, it  was  necessary  to  aid  them  while  getting  an 
education.  Hence  the  need  of  scholarship  endow- 
ments at  once.  They  turned  a  native  preacher's 
house  into  a  seminary  building,  improvised  dormito- 
ries from  a  row  of  huts  that  had  been  occupied  by 
native  Christian  families,  and  with  Brother  Thomas 
as  the  principal,  and  Dr.  Scott  to  assist  in  the  teaching, 
they  made  a  commencement.  They  began  with  about 
a  dozen  students,  who  worked  through  a  three-years' 
course  of  study,  and  grand  preachers  most  of  them 
became.  The  standard  of  entrance  to  the  school  was 
not  placed  very  high,  for  they  needed  men  and  it  was 
the  day  of  small  things.     They  have  sino^  made  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  345 

standard  of  entrance  more  difficult.  After  a  few 
years,  partly  to  supply  Cliristian  teacliers  for  their 
schools,  and  partly  to  furnish  a  preparatory  depart- 
ment for  the  theological  seminary,  a  normal  and  high 
school  was  opened  in  connection  with  the  seminary. 
Meantime  Mr.  Thomas  had  visited  the  United  States, 
and  secured  from  camp-meetings  and  individuals  en- 
dowments for  some  thirty -six  additional  scholarships. 
Each  year  brought  a  new  class,  who  either  in  becom- 
ing Christians  lost  all,  or  in  abandoning  other  pursuits 
for  study  needed  these  scholarships.  The  generosity 
of  E.  Remington,  Esq.,  of  Ilion,  N.  Y.,  enabled  them 
to  erect,  in  1875,  a  beautiful  building  with  chapel 
room,  library  hall,  and  recitation  rooms  complete.  We 
present  here  a  picture  of  this  building :  Dormitories 
were  expanded  for  the  increasing  number  of  students. 
More  recently  the  institution  has  been  registered  or 
incorporated  by  the  government  of  North  India  to 
give  its  board  of  trustees  legal  authority  in  holding 
and  controlling  its  property  and  funds.  Thus  they 
have  moved  forward,  doing  a  most  important  work 
for  the  native  ministry  and  the  evangelization  of  the 
country.  Eighty-nine  regular  graduates  have  passed 
out,  with  thirty  who  have  taken  a  partial  course, 
making  one  hundred  and  eleven  native  missionaries 
who  have  been  trained  in  this  school  of  the  prophets. 
Fonr  of  these  have  gone  to  work  in  other  missions — 
one  for  the  Baptist  brethren  at  Delhi,  and  three  for 
the  Presbyterians  at  Hajpootana. 


34G  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

It  may  be  interesting  to  tlie  reader  to  know  some- 
thing more  particularly  about  the  organization  and 
internal  economy.  The  curriculum  of  study  is  sub- 
stantially the  same  as  pursued  by  students  of  theolog- 
ical institutions  in  America.  Of  course  they  have 
adaptations  of  some  things  to  India.  Drill  is  close 
and  hard,  and  examinations  are  sharp  and  thorough. 
The  classic  languages  of  India  are  studied,viz. :  San- 
skrit, Persian,  and  Arabic,  Students  are  generally 
married  men.  Married  life  begins  early  in  India. 
Each  married  student  is  allowed  two  small  rooms,  un- 
furnished. In  the  rooms  he  will  place  a  couple  of 
small  cots,  a  box,  perhaps  a  little  table,  an  earthen- 
ware lamp,  very  cheap,  a  few  brass  cooking  utensils, 
and  he  is  ready  for  life  and  study  in  a  theological 
school.  The  scholarship  allowances  will  seem  wonder- 
fully small  in  the  United  States.  The  married 
students  receive,  at  the  present  value  of  the  rupee, 
about  $4  a  month,  and  unmarried  students  about 
$2  40  a  month.  In  the  normal  school  department 
married  students  get  $2  40  a  month,  and  single  stu- 
dents $1  40  a  month.  With  these  sums  they  furnish 
their  rooms,  feed  and  clothe  themselves,  and  furnish 
their  own  books.  The  seminary  has  been  at  work  for 
twelve  years,  and  now  has  a  fair  supply  of  buildings, 
the  result  of  donatiotis  and  partial  help  from  our  Mis- 
sionary Society.  Fifty-seven  scholarships  have  been 
founded,  meeting  their  present  want.  But  a  press- 
mo  necessity  is  endowment  in  support  of  teachers. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  347 

Tlie  Mission  Board  supplies  only  the  salary  of  the 
principal.  In  the  seminary  proper,  and  in  the  nor- 
mal school  department,  four  or  live  other  teachers  are 
employed  for  wliom  no  endowment  has  yet  been  se- 
cured. So  far  these  teachers  have  been  paid  from  the 
income  of  the  scholarship  endowment.  This  much- 
regretted  necessity  has  greatly  crippled  the  efficiency 
of  the  institution.^  The  present  aim  is  to  raise  $12,000 
for  the  endowment  of  a  native  professor's  chair. 
This  sum  will  yield  a  sufficient  salary  in  India.  The 
board  of  trustees  has  decided  that  any  one  donating 
a  sum  sufficient  to  found  a  chair  shall  have  the  privi- 
lege of  naming  the  chair.  Will  not  some  generous- 
hearted  brother  or  sister  come  forward  and,  by  assum- 
ing the  whole  or  the  largest  part  of  this  sum,  claim 
this  privilege  ? 

This  is  the  first  Methodist  Theological  Seminary 
in  Asia.  It  has  already  done  a  noble  work  in  supply- 
ing one  hundred  and  eleven  native  missionaries  to  the 
field,  besides  preparing  a  number  of  Christian  teach- 
ers. The  opening  is  a  grand  one  in  the  pressing  de- 
mand for  trained  men  in  this  rapidly  expanding 
mission  work.  India  pleads  for  something  worthy  of 
the  great  opening  presented  there.  This  institution 
is  educating  a  ministry  for  a  population  as  large  as 
half  the  population  of  the  United  States,  and  in  a 
language  spoken  by  one  hundred  millions  of  people. 
They  are  looking  to  this  present  year  to  fit  them  for 
enlarged   usefulness.     Nowhere  ^can  money  be  be- 


348  Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

stowed  for  more  effective  work  in  the  salvation  of 
souls.  This  seminary  should  he  raised  at  ortce  to  the 
highest  condition  of  effectiveness.  Now  is  the  time 
to  put  a  shoulder  to  this  wheel.  We  are  on  the  eve 
of  mighty  moral  and  social  revolutions  in  the  vast 
pagan  world.  The  great  deep,  especially  in  India 
and  Japan,  is  breaking  up.  The  Church  should  move 
forward  with  all  its  wisdom  and  power  at  this  su- 
preme moment.  Anti-Christianity  is  already  trying 
to  preempt  the  field.  Agents  of  skepticism  from 
Christian  lands  are  now  on  the  ground.  Islam  is  en- 
dowing great  colleges.  Buddhism  is  reconstruciting 
its  base.  Here  is  where  the  Church's  great  battle 
against  Paganism  will  be  fought  out.  The  day  that 
Bees  idolatry  surrender  in  India  will  see  its  doom 
every-where.  Under  God,  our  hope  of  this  grand 
victory  rests  largely  in  such  a  cultured  and  sanctified 
ministry  as  has  begun  to  go  forth  from  this  school  of 
the  prophets.  With  increased  means  they  could  con- 
fer upon  them  that  more  adequate  culture  which  the 
impending  conflict  will  so  much  require,  and  also  pro- 
vide room  for  the  larger  number  which  the  growing 
wants  of  their  work  demand  ;  so  that  they  may  be  en- 
abled to  follow  up  and  utilize  the  success  which  God 
is  giving  them. 

My  readers  may  be  interested  in  looking  over  the 
programme  of  exercises  on  the  day  in  question,  when 
these  seven  students  were  graduated.  The  number 
is  usually  larger,  sometimes  as  high  as  thirteen : 


From  Boston  to  Bareii.ly.  349 

BAKEILLY  THEOLOGICAL   SEMINAKY. 


CLOSING  EXERCISES  FOR  GRADUATING  CLASS,  1883, 

Saturday^  Decemher  15,  11  A.  M, 


PRO&RAMME. 

SINGING  AND  PRAYER. 

ADDRESSER  BY  GRADUATES. 

"  His  Ministers  a  Flume  of  Fire,"^   )  PitXri  Lal. 

Kliddimon  ko  dg  kd  shuala  bandy  a,  ) 

The  Word  in  Tinje,  ,    ,         ,       ,           l  C„ejj/  t  . . 

Jo  bdt  waqt  par  kahi  jdti  kyd  khuh  hai,  )      ' ' '. 

How  the  Gospel  entered  India  and  gratitude  for  it.  > 
lajil  kymkar  Ilindastdn  men  pahuuchi,  aur  us  ke  dne  [>•  John  W.  Todd. 
ki  shukr-guzdri,  ) 

NATIVE   MUSIC. 

Self-sacrifice,           }  -rtr .  t,t^t.xt  nr  o^^-,,™, 

Apnd  inkdr  knrnd,  \ ^^^^^^  ^^-  ^co^T. 

Christ  the  Life,              )  q.„t't  ti.««^ 

-Zindagi  Mam  hun:^  \  bAMi  L  Harry. 


NATIVE  MUSIC. 


Labor  omnia  vincit," 


Mihnat  se  sab  kuchh  ho  saktd  hail ^^^^  Bakhsh. 

Success  in  the  Ministry,        )  -Rt^TTr/  QTxrn 

Waiz  kis  taur  se  kdmydb  ho,  S ^^'^^'^  ^^^®- 

NATIVE   MUSIC. 

Brief  Report  of  the  School,  Remarks  by  Yisitors, 

Reading  of  Standings,  Delivering  of  Diplomas, 

Doxology  and  Benediction. 


Graduating  Class  Sermon,  Sunday,  9th By  the  Principal. 

Annual  Sermon,  Sunday,  16th,  at  10  A.  M By  Rev.  R.  Hoskins. 

Alumni  Sermon  at  3  P.  M By  Kallu  Sixg. 


350  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

Four  of  the  young  men  bear  English  names,  inti- 
mating that  they  came  through  our  Boys'  Orphanage 
and  have  the  names  of  their  American  patrons.  The 
Enghsh  rendering  is  given  of  the  theme,  which  was 
read  in  the  Hindustanee. 

I  was  requested  to  preside  and  say  a  few  words  to 
each  student  before  handing  him  his  diploma.  The 
iirst  whom  Dr.  Scott  brought  forward  and  introduced, 
as  standing  at  the  head  of  his  class,  was  a  brother 
without  any  caste  distinction  at  all,  and  whom  any 
Brahmin  in  the  land  would  affect  to  look  down  upon 
with  contempt.  Yet  here  he  was,  hj  general  consent, 
the  first  in  his  class  for  all  excellence.  Such  is  the 
fruit  of  Christianity.  How  grandly  the  divine  pur- 
pose in  this  respect  was  illustrated  at  the  Mela  at 
Ajudhiya,  a  few  weeks  since,  will  be  referred  to  far- 
ther on. 

In  introducing  the  last  student  to  me,  Dr.  Scott 
said,  "  And  this,  sir,  is  a  Presbyterian."  How  odd  it 
sounded — a  Presbyterian  student  graduating  in  a 
Methodist  theological  seminary  !  The  doctor  saw  my 
surprise  and  amusement,  and  in  explanation  said: 
"  When  you  came  up  country  alone  in  1856,  our  good 
Presbyterian  brethren  at  Allahabad  made  you  a  pres- 
ent of  one  of  their  students,  that  you  might  have  some 
one  to  begin  with,  and  you  will  remember  how  faith- 
fully that  gift.  Brother  Joel,  stood  by  you,  and  still 
stands  an  example  to  our  rising  ministry.  So,  when 
our  Presbvterian  brethren  in  Eajpootana,  who  have 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  351 

no  theological  seminary  of  their  own,  asked  us  to  train 
a  student  for  .them  at  their  expense,  we  gladly  and 
gratefully  consented,  and  this  is  the  third  whom  we 
have  graduated  for  them.  I  was  delighted,  and  could 
not  but  remark  that  with  all  our  respect  for  evangel- 
ical alliance,  I  regarded  this  fact  as  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  and  expressive  illustrations  of  real  Christian 
union  that  I  had  ever  known.  I  gave  the  young  man 
as  hearty  a  hand-shake  as  he  ever  received,  and  said  : 
"  When  you  return  to  our  Presbyterian  brethren  in 
Rajpootana,  give  them  my  love,  and  tell  them  that 
while  you  are  the  third  installment  we  have  paid  for 
Brother  Joel,  we  are  willing  to  pay  the  same  amount 
over  again,  if  they  so  desire,  ere  we  feel  our  obliga- 
tion is  fairly  met." 

A  large  flag  floated  from  the  staff  on  the  top  of  the 
seminary  all  the  time  we  were  there,  having  the 
words,  ""Welcome  to  the  founders  of  the  mission, 
1856-1883,"  in  three  languages  upon  it — the  Hindu- 
stanee,  the  Ilindee,  and  the  English.  So,  of  course, 
almost  every  one  in  Bareilly  knew  we  were  there, 
and  the  interest  resulting  was  considerable.  Several 
of  the  old  native  gentlemen  who  knew  me  in  the 
Sepoy  rebellion  days  came  to  see  me.  Some  of  them 
were  present  at  the  reception  tendered  us  on  the 
evening  of  the  closing  exercises,  and  the  kind  neigh- 
borly spirit  which  they  evinced  was  very  pleasant. 
Here  were  the  men,  some  of  whom  knew  that  myself 
and  family  were  doomed  to  die  jthe  death  as  soon  as 


352  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

Khan  Bahadur  seized  power  in  May,  1857.  How 
certain  our  fate  must  have  seemed  to  them !  Yet, 
when  the  day  (31st  of  May)  came,  and  they  beheld 
the  Nawab's  vengeance  wreaked  on  the  fifteen  En- 
glish gentlemen  whom  he  seized  and  executed,  the 
missionary  and  his  wife  and  two  children  were  not 
among  the  victims.  I  have  no  means  of  knowing 
what  they  thought  then,  but  certainly,  at  this  recep- 
tion, twenty-six  years  after,  it  was  evident  enough 
that  they  were  truly  glad  that  we  had  not  been 
hanged,  but  were  here  now  in  life  and  health  once 
more  among  them.  The  conciliation  of  views  and 
feelings  toward  Christianity  which  they  admitted, 
and  the  kind  words  of  appreciation  of  our  native 
ministry  and  our  church  members  which  they  spoke, 
were  very  gratifying  to  me.  Christianity  is  evident- 
ly telling,  and  that  in  its  highest  and  best  sense,  upon 
the  thoughtful  minds  of  thousands  who  have  not  yet 
embraced  it,  but  are  beginning  to  recognize  its  value 
and  its  truth. 

The  commanding  position  of  our  mission  premises 
in  Bareilly,  occupying  both  sides  of  the  main  street, 
has  been  often  referred  to  by  those  who  have  visited 
our  mission.  Bishop  Foster's  eulogium  is  especially 
kind  and  appreciative.  But  I  could  not  fail  to  recall 
to  mind  the  limited  views  of  some  of  my  associates 
when  I  resolved,  in  addition  to  what  we  had  then,  to 
secure  the  site  on  which  the  theological  seminary 
and   the   church  stand  to-day.     One  of  these  good 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  »      353 

brethren  was  now  magnanimous  enough  to  remind 
me  of  their  want  of  sympathy  witli  me  in  that  trans- 
action. He  said :  "  Brother  Butler,  when  you  took 
the  responsibility  of  securing  tlie  lot  on  that  side  of 
the  road  for  our  work,  you  remember  we  thought  you 
were  going  too  fast,  and  making  unnecessary  provis- 
ion for  the  future.  But  how  evident  it  is  now  that 
we  were  mistaken  and  that  you  were  right.  Often 
have  w^e  expressed  our  gratitude  that  you  acted  on 
your  own  broader  views  in  the  matter,  and  secured 
it  for  us  when  it  could  be  done.  How  complete  and 
powerful  its  possession  has  made  our  mission.  You 
secured  it  for  us,  too,  at  a  small  outlay,  but  no  money 
that  w^e  could  command  would  buy  it  for  us  to-day." 
Yery  generous  it  was  of  this  good  brother  to  make 
this  admission,  and  what  a  justification  to  my  own 
mind  that  I  had  sought  and  followed  the  guidance  of 
God  in  thus  providing  for  the  rising  wants  of  his 
work  and  the  blessed  future  toward  which  I  then  ap- 
preliended  we  were  moving,  and  which  I  expected 
would  justify  my  action. 

The  Sabbath  was  probably  the  grandest  day  in  all 
our  Christian  life ;  and  this  is  saying  so  much  it  makes 
me  pause ;  yet  still  I  can  dare  reaffirm  it  as  my  con- 
viction. Its  crowded  and  holy  services  contrasted  so 
gloriously  with  that  weary  Sabbath  in  1857,  when 
we  were  here  for  the  first  time  alone ;  no  congrega- 
tion, no  fellow-worshipers,  no  sign  of  a  Sabbath — all 

secular  and  idolatrous — our  harp^  hung  on  the  wil- 
23 


354      '         From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

lows,  and  "  we  wept  as  we  remembered  Zion."  How 
sad  that  day  was !  It  required  all  the  faith  we  could 
muster  to  bear  up  and  hope  for  the  better  day  that  was 
to  come,  when  our  w^onder-working  God  was  to  "  make 
a  way  in  the  wilderness  and  rivers  in  the  desert." 
And  now 

"  That  day  lias  dawned !  " 

and  we  are  here  to  behold  its  glorious  light.  How 
true,  how  appropriate  to  us,  we  felt  the  divine  word 
to  be,  that  twenty-six  years  ago  we  clung  to  in  that 
"  dark  and  cloudy  day,"  the  naked  promise  of  our 
God,  without  the  first  external  sign  to  encourage  us  : 
"  He  that  goeth  forth  and  weepeth,  bearing  precious 
seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again  with  rejoicing,  bring- 
ing his  sheaves  with  him." 

The  beautiful  church  was  crowded  that  morning 
with  a  congregation  of  native  Christians,  whose  tidy 
appearance  and  devout  and  intelligent  aspect  was  a 
joy  to  behold.  I  think  I  am  not  partial  in  saying  that 
I  have  not  seen  in  all  India  an  audience  more  wortliy 
of  this  remark.  It  w^as  also  so  good  to  see  such  a  pre- 
ponderance of  the  woman  element  in  the  congrega- 
tion, due,  of  course,  to  the  presence  of  the  girls  from 
the  Orphanage,  as  well  as  to  hear  such  Christian  sing- 
ing in  a  heathen  land  as  we  had  there  that  day. 

As  the  sermon  ended.  Dr.  Dease,  the  missionary  in 
charge,  came  forward  and  said  that,  before  the  service 
was  closed,  there  were  one  or  two  other  things  which 
they  desired  I  should  do  for  them — more  delightful 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  355 

surprises  prepared  for  us  by  our  kind  friends.  He 
explained  that  tliej  had  reserved  the  candidates  for 
full  reception  belonging  to  the  two  quarters,  so  that  I 
might  have  the  joy  and  honor  of  receiving  them,  and 
giving  tliem  the  right  hand  of  fellowship  on  behalf 
of  the  Church  at  home.  He  drew  forth  the  list  and 
began  to  read,  and  did  not  reach  the  end  until  sixty- 
seven  names  were  called.  What  a  sight  it  w^as,  as 
they  came  round  the  communion  rails  and  stood  two 
and  three  deep.  More  than  twenty-five  of  them  wxre 
oi'phan  girls,  and  some  of  them  looked  so  young,  that 
I  quietly  asked  the  doctor  if  he  considered  that  all  of 
these  youthful  candidates  had  "  saving  faith  in 
Christ  ? "  He  smiled  and  said  in  reply :  "  I  asked 
that  question  of  Miss  Sparkes  the  day  she  handed  me 
her  portion  of  the  list,  and  she  assured  me  that  she 
had  held  them  back  from  joining  in  full  until  she  was 
satisfied  that  each  of  them  was  a  child  of  God."  He 
added,  "  You  need  have  no  reservation  in  your  mind 
on  that  point."  Of  course,  after  such  assurance,  I  had 
none,  but  gladly  received  them  all. 

When  they  had  taken  their  seats  Dr.  Dease  again 
arose  and  said  :  "  And  now,  sir,  we  have  another 
pleasant  duty  which  we  desire  you  should  also  fulfill 
for  us.  The  converts  of  the  quarter  from  heathenism 
are  here  to  be  baptized  and  received  on  probation,  and 
we  wish  you  to  have  this  privilege  also."  He  read 
again,  and  thirty-four  answered  to  their  names  and 
came  around  the  altar.     It  was  a>  grand  sight,  these 


356  FfiOM  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

accessions  from  heathenism  to  Christianity.  It  was  a 
matter  of  satisfaction  tliat  so  much  of  my  little  stock 
of  Hindustanee  had  come  back  to  me,  that  I  was  able 
to  give  them  the  sacred  rite  in  their  own  language. 
And  this  was  in  Bareilly !  The  experience  of  this 
day  was  unique  in  my  ministerial  life.  Never  before 
have  I  baptized  so  many,  or  received  such  a  number 
into  full  membership  into  our  Church,  in  any  one 
day.  At  home  it  would  not  be  so  wonderful.  But 
this  was  Bareilly  !  Here,  where  the  Urst  member 
we  received  became  a  martyr  for  her  faith.  Here 
where  w^e,  too,  w^ere  doomed  to  die.  Here,  where  so 
many  suffered  death  for  Christ  on  the  31st  of  May, 
1857,  and  their  bodies  lay  exposed  in  the  pubhc 
streets.  Here,  where  we  escaped  with  the  loss  of  all 
things  but  life.  Here,  where  we  experienced  the 
loneliest  and  saddest  Sabbath  in  our  Christian  history, 
and  where  the  outlook  was  then  so  dreadful  for  Chris- 
tianity, where  the  enemies  of  the  Lord  Jesus  held 
their  high  carnival  for  full  fifteen  months  ;  even  here 
liad  God  brought  us  back  to  see,  and  rejoice  in  the 
wonderful  evidence  how  he  could  "  make  the  wrath 
of  man  to  praise  him,"  and  restrain  the  remainder  of 
wrath.  Yes,  here,  within  those  communion  rails,  I 
stood,  with  a  heart  full  to  overflowing  and  with  tears 
of  joy,  and  realized  it  all  as  no  one  else  could.  How 
conscious  I  was  that  the  blessed  Master  himself  was 
w^ith  nie  as  I  was  honored  to  receive,  there  and 
then,  one  hundred  and  one  members  into  the  Chris- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  357 

tian  Church,  nearly  one  half  of  the  number  being 
females  I 

We  are  assured  in  the  word  of  God  that,  in  "  the 
assemblies  of  his  saints,"  there  is  more  presence  than 
what  is  visible  to  mortal  eye.  "  We  are  made  a  spec- 
tacle to  the  world  and  to  angels  and  to  men,"  "  com- 
passed about  with  a  great  cloud  of  witnesses."  How 
fully  I  was  impressed  with  the  consciousness  of  this 
fact  that  day  as  I  stood  there.  The  divine  presence 
was  realized  w^ith  a  peculiar  power ;  but  in  addition  to 
this  divine  surrounding,  a  special  impression  of  the 
interest  that  Maria  must  have  in  this  scene  kept  re- 
curring to  my  thoughts  all  tln^ough  those  reception 
and  baptismal  services,  until  she  seemed  so  manifest- 
ly before  my  mind,  that  I  came  to  the  conclusion  that 
it  had  probably  pleased  the  blessed  Lord  to  grant 
that  the  soul  of  the  martyred  girl  (whose  mutilated 
body  was  lying  under  the  rose -hedge  only  a  few 
minutes'  walk  from  where  I  w^as  standing)  the  privi- 
lege of  being  present  to  look  once  more  on  the  face  of 
her  old  pastor  and  witness  the  joy  of  his  heart  that 
day  as  he  received  or  baptized  these  one  hundred  and 
one  candidates,  half  of  them  of  her  own  sex,  into 
the  communion  of  the  Church  for  whose  sake  she  suf- 
fered death  !  I  never  had  such  a  vivid  impression  of 
the  presence  of  any  of  the  sainted  dead.  To  me  at 
least  it  seemed  very  real ;  indeed,  the  highest  realiza- 
tion I  have  ever  known  as  to 

"  How  thinly  the  vail  intervenes  " 


358  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

between  ourselves  and  the  spirits  of  the  just  made 
perfect,  whom  we  are  so  soon  to  join. 

Speaking  of  these  orphan  girls  at  Bareilly,  and  of 
what  they  have  become  and  are  yet  to  become  to 
Christianity  in  India,  I  am  reminded  of  an  incident 
that  occurred  in  one  of  the  audiences  which  I  ad- 
dressed. There  were  probably  six  hundred  persons 
present,  nearly  all  of  them  native  Christians.  Babu 
Eam  Chander  Bose  was  my  interpreter  on  the  occasion, 
and  he  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  competent  of  his 
class.  He  stood  on  one  side  of  the  pulpit  and  I  on 
the  other,  and  without  a  moment's  hesitation,  as  fast 
as  I  uttered  the  thought  in  English,  he  poured  it  out 
in  his  fluent  Hindustanee.  The  audience  was  in- 
tensely interested,  as  they  usually  are,  in  this  style  of 
addressing  them.  I  was  making  three  points  as  to  the 
object  of  missionaries  in  coming  to  India:  to  give 
them  a  true  religion,  a  sanctified  education,  and  to 
create  the  Christian  home.  All  went  smoothly  till 
I  pronounced  my  third  position,  when  the  Babu  sud- 
denly stopped  and  looked  round  him  confused.  For 
a  moment  I  supposed  he  was  ill.  But  turning  to  the 
missionaries  sitting  behind  us,  he  asked,  "  Brethren, 
what  am  I  to  do  with  that  word  ?  In  the  sense  in 
which  Dr.  Butler  is  using  it,  we  have  no  term  in  our 
language  by  which  I  can  render  his  word  home.  I 
can  translate  it  "  house "  or  "  family,"  but  neither 
would  express  his  meaning,  yet  I  can  get  no  nearer. 
What  am  I  to  do?" 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  359 

I  stood  and  looked  at  tlie  cultured  Babu  in  his 
inability,  knowing  that  if  he  could  not  translate  the 
word  adequately  probably  no  one  else  of  his  race 
could.  He  had  been  twice  in  America ;  had  seen 
"the  Christian  home,"  and  knew  exactly  what  it  was, 
and  how  it  ought  to  be  represented.  But  there  he 
stood  and  was  helpless.  This  was,  perhaps,  one  of  the 
highest  compliments  ever  paid  to  the  Christian  re- 
ligion. The  Babu  could  not  find  the  term  in  his  vo- 
cabulary, for  the  sufficient  reason  that  the  thing  it 
expresses  is  not  to  be  found  in  the  condition  of  his 
country.  Heathenism  has  but  little  need  for  the 
word.  They  have  sacrificed  the  possibility  of  its  true 
meaning  by  their  treatment  of  woman  and  their  sen- 
timents in  regard  to  her.  Their  miserable  civiliza- 
tion has  involved  them  in  this  penalty.  Polygamy, 
either  as  a  fact  oi*  a  possibility,  banishes  the  idea  of 
home  from  any  land  over  which  it  spreads  its  dark 
shadow.  The  happiest  wife  in  India  knows  well  that, 
though  she  may  to-day  be  alone  with  her  lord,  and 
without  a  rival  in  his  affection,  that  to-morrow  all  this 
may  be  changed.  With  or  without  any  reason  on  her 
part — without  any  failure  of  her  duty  or  affection — 
lier  lord  and  master  may  choose  to  become  fickle,  his 
love  may  wander  and  find  other  attractions,  and  with- 
out a  note  of  warning  she  may  at  any  hour  find  her- 
self supplanted,  and  a  stranger  introduced  into  the 
"  family  "  or  "  house." 

^or  would  she  dare  even  to  protest ;  for  well  she 


360  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

knows  that  botli  lier  religion  and  the  law  justify  her 
husband  in  so  doing.  And  any  rebellion  on  her  part 
against  the  deep  wrong  done  her  can  be  suddenly 
ended  by  her  punishment  and  expulsion.  No ;  no 
true,  no  Christian  home  is  there,  and  cannot  be,  so 
long  as  their  vile  religion  regulates  their  family  life. 
If  to  this  license  you  add  ignorance,  then  the  chain 
which  binds  woman's  condition  is  dark  as  well  as 
galling.  Only  Christianity  can  create  the  home.  That 
fragment  of  Eden  w^hich  has  survived  the  fall,  un- 
der the  merciful  arrangements  of  Him  who  ordained 
holy  matrimony,  is  still  guarded  by  his  justice,  and 
made  possible  to  those  alone  who  accept  his  condi- 
tion of 

"  Loving  one  only  and  being  true  to  lier." 

He  enjoins  the  measure  of  that  true  and  manly 
affection,  when  his  holy  providence  has  guided  the 
two  sincere  and  honest  hearts  together.  At  his  altar, 
as  the  gentle  hand  of  the  trusting  woman  is  placed  in 
the  hand  of  him  who  then  covenants  before  God  and 
man  "  to  love,  honor,  and  cherish  her,  and  forsaking 
all  other,  cleave  only  unto  her  as  long  as  they  both 
shall  live,"  the  Author  of  this  blessed  institution  adds, 
to  the  heart  and  conscience  of  the  happy  bridegroom, 
"  Now  love  her  as  Christ  also  loved  the  Church."  Here 
is  God's  own  foundation  for  the  Christian  home ;  the 
rest,  for  its  culture  and  sanctity,  depends  upon  them- 
selves. A  home,  too,  where  its  children,  the  fruit  of  their 
affection,  are  gladly  welcomed  as  the  gifts  of  heaven, 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  361 

to  be  ti-aiiied  for  glory,  honor,  and  immortality;  where 
the  family  altar  is  sustained  in  its  midst,  and  divine 
benedictions  sanctify  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  their 
daily  lives.  What  scope  God  intended  should  be 
given  in  this  sanctuary  of  the  affections  for  the  exer- 
cise of  the  tenderest  charities  of  life,  its  mutual  help- 
fulness and  sweetest  sympathies ! 

Without  Eve,  Paradise  w^as  but  a  solitude  to  the 
most  perfect  man  of  our  race.  It  is  still  woman,  thus 
honored,  that  with  her  cultured  affection,  her  devotion 
and  unquestioning  trust,  forms  the  Christian  liome ; 
w^hich  makes  a  paradise  for  the  poor  man  as  well  as 
for  the  rich,  for  the  cottage  as  for  the  palace ;  for  there 
the  loving  wife  reigns  as  queen  and  fears  no  rival. 
"  Her  children  rise  up  and  call  her  blessed  ;  her  hus- 
band also,  and  lie  praiseth  her."  Such  homes  are  the 
creations  of  Christianity,  and  they  flourish  most  where 
its  influence  is  most  felt.  Christianity  enriches  the 
language  and  the  civilization  of  every  land  which  it 
enters,  as  it  renews  the  heart  and  life  of  each  individ- 
ual who  receives  it.  "  Old  things  are  passed  away ;  be- 
hold, all  things  become  new."  The  new  life  demands 
a  home  suitable  to  its  own  peace  and  joy,  and  Cliris- 
tianity  stands  ready  to  create  it  for  all  its  true  disciples. 
As  the  vernacular  has  no  word  to  express  the  idea  of 
such  a  home,  so  it  has  none  to  properly  define  regen- 
eration and  its  associated  blessings,  and  the  people 
must  either  go  to  their  ancient  classics  to  And  a  phrase 
for  them,  or  coin  the  requisite  terms.     But  as  sure 


3G2  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

as  this  new  tiling  is  born  in  their  land,  like  the  manna 
in  the  wilderness,  a  worthy  name  will  be  found  for 
it,  by  which  it  will  henceforth  be  designated  and  rec- 
ognized. 

Already  such  homes  are  beginning  to  dot  the  great 
valley.  Our  female  Orphanage,  under  God,  is  doing 
its  part  toward  their  creation,  and  the  number  and 
culture  of  them  are  increasing. 

The  second  generation  is  building  them  better  than 
the  first,  and  "the  rise  in  blessing"  is  still  before 
them.  I  saw  some  of  these  homes.  One  of  our 
most  pleasant  recollections  is  where  we  were  invited 
to  go  and  share  their  humble .  evening  meal,  and 
when  the  repast  was  ended,  the  dear  woman  laid  the 
word  of  God  before  me,  and  said,  "  Sahib,  wont  you 
please  read  a  portion  and  pray  with  us  before  you 
go  ? "  Yes,  surely,  here  was  the  very  thing  that  Babu 
Bose  could  not  call  by  name,  but  which  this  Hindu 
Methodist  wife  and  mother  knew  by  experience  as  a 
fact  in  the  humble  little  sanctuary  where  her  daily 
life  is  spent. 

Our  Boj's'  Orphanage,  at  Shahjahanpore,  forty- three 
miles  east  from  Bareilly,  was  our  next  point  of  inter- 
est. Its  origin  and  history  have  been  intimated  al- 
ready in  speaking  of  the  Orphanage  at  Bareilly. 
This  institution,  also,  has  fully  answered  our  hopes, 
and  has  become  of  untold  blessing  to  our  mission 
work.  The  number  of  children  received  into  it 
lias  been  smaller  than  what  the  Girls  Orphanage  ad- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  3C3 

niitted.  But  those  in  charge  of  it,  and  especially 
Brothers  Jolmson  and  Bare,  have  equal  reason  to  be 
grateful  for  the  results  attained,  as  have  the  devoted 
ladies  who  guided  the  interests  of  the  Bareillv  Or- 
plianage. 

I  found  every  thing  at  Shahjahanpore  in  a  very  sat- 
isfactory condition.  It  is,  in  fact,  a  good  industrial 
school,  where,  in  addition  to  an  excellent  Christian 
education,  our  boys  are  taught  to  earn  their  living  by 
various  trades  and  industries,  as  well  as  by  the  cultiva- 
tion of  the  land  around  the  institution.  Shoe-making, 
cabinet-making,  blacksmithing,  rope-making,  tailor- 
ing, and  other  trades  are  taught,  and  all  do  what  they 
can.  It  is  a  pleasant  and  busy  scene,  and  they  have  the 
aspect  of  being  a  God-fearing,  intelligent,  and  happy 
band  of  boys.  Here,  tod,  we  had  a  delightful  recep- 
tion, hearty  addresses,  and  a  joyful  time  generally 
with  these  dear  lads.  Their  little  savings  had  fur- 
nished tliem  with  the  "  fire-works  "  with  which  they 
finished  up  tlieir  celebration;  and  no  Fourth  of 
July  boys  at  home  could  be  more  jubilant  than  these 
were  that  evening.  Indeed,  human  nature  is  very 
much  alike  all  over  this  world.  It  is  especially  so,  as 
similar  conditions  of  intelligence  and  religious  enthu- 
siasm come  into  action.  The  experiences  and  their 
manifestations  then  become  almost  identical,  and 
you  realize  what  a  true  brotherhood  these  make  for 
humanity  every-where.  The  bar  of  clime,  color,  and 
language  sinks  out  of  sight,  and  you  have  a  delight- 


C64  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

ful  consciousness  of  the  wide  meaning  of  our  Lord's 
language  when  he  stretched  forth  his  liand  toward 
his  disciples,  and  said  :  "  Whosoever  [Hindu,  Chi- 
nese, or  American  alike]  shall  do  the  will  of  my 
Father  which  is  in  heaven,  the  same  is  my  brother, 
and  sister,  and  mother." 

Here  we  have  Heaven's  own  remedy  for  the  caste 
distinctions,  aristocratic  exclusiveness,  and  pride  of 
race,  which  have  so  long  separated  men  and  cursed 
the  world.  It  is  well  for  us  to  remember  that  we 
Gentiles  were  once  all  alike  involved  in  the  common 
ruin,  when  we  "  were  witliout  Christ,  being  aliens 
from  the  commonwealtli  of  Israel,  and  strangers  from 
the  covenants  of  promise,  having  no  hope,  and  with- 
out God  in  the  world :  but  now,  in  Christ  Jesus,  ye 
who  sometime  were  far  off  are  made  nigh  by  the 
blood  of  Christ."  For  he  "  came  and  preached  peace 
to  you  which  were  afar  off,  and  to  them  that  were 
nigh.  For  through  him  we  both  have  access  by  one 
Spirit  unto  the  Father,"  and  are  "  no  more  strangers 
and  foreigners,  but  fellow-citizens  with  the  saints,  and 
of  the  household  of  God."  Into  this  blessed  brother- 
hood of  salvation  and  peace,  through  atoning  blood, 
the  last  of  men  are  welcome,  the  farthest  off  and  the 
greatest  stranger  is  especially  and  cordially  invited  by 
our  common  Father,  "who  will  have  all  men  to  be 
saved,"  and  who  has  laid  it  as  an  obligation  upon 
those  already  saved  to  invite  the  rest  to  come  and  be 
saved  too.     How  "  glorious  "  the  Gospel  appears  as 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  365 

one  stands  amid  these  crowded  bazaars,  and  realizes 
that  this  is  its  nature  and  purpose,  and  that  this  will 
be  its  blessed  result  to  them  also !  Truly,  we  are 
debtors  "  both  to  the  Greeks,  and  to  the  barbarians ; 
both  to  the  wise,  and  to  the  unwise ;"  for  we  owe 
them  the  Gosjpel^  and  will  owe  it  until  the  last  man 
on  earth  has  had  it  given  to  him.  Doubtless,  as  we 
toil  for  God,  we  are  ''  building  better  than  we  know," 
for  we  are  finding  out  and  preparing  material  to  aid 
in  the  erection  of  that  "  holy  temple,"  of  which  the 
Lord  Jesus  is  "  the  chief  corner-stone,"  and  saved  and 
glorified  humanity  will  be  the  component  parts. 

No  one  race  nor  clime  can  furnish  all  that  is  neces- 
sary for  its  beauty  and  perfection.  When  complete 
it  will  be  evident  enough  that  its  "  Builder  and 
Maker  "  obtained  its  materials  from  many  lands,  and 
even  from  the  ends  of  the  earth.  Like  those  dissimi- 
lar but  magnificent  pillars  of  alabaster,  malachite,  por- 
phyry, and  marble — the  gifts  of  crowned  heads  of 
various  countries,  which  constitute  the  most  promi- 
nent ornaments  of  that  splendid  church  of  St.  Paul's, 
outside  the  gates  of  Ostia,  so  the  Lord  Jesus  is  hav- 
ing materials  sought  for  and  prepared  whose  variety 
and  loveliness  will  form  forever  the  leading  attrac- 
tions of  that  living  temple  of  our  God.  And,  surely, 
India — gorgeous  India — is  to  furnish  some  of  that 
redeemed  humanity,  w^hose  nature  and  quality  will 
be  found  at  last  possessed  of  the  perfection  and 
polish  which   will  render  them  capable  of  bearing 


366  Fbom  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

tliat  glorious  prominence  and  ornamentation  of  winch 
the  divine  Architect  speaks  when  he  says,  "  I  will 
make  him  a  jDillar  in  the  temple  of  my  God,  and  he 
shall  go  out  tlience  no  more :  and  I  will  write  upon 
him  the  name  of  my  God,  and  the  name  of  the  city 
of  my  God,  the  new  Jerusaleui,  which  cometh  down 
out  of  heaven  from  my  God,  and  mine  own  new 
name.'' — Bevised  Version. 

But  we  are  wandering  away  from  those  dear  orphan 
boys.  It  was  a  pleasure  to  be  informed  by  the  mis- 
sionary in  charge.  Brother  Bare,  that  a  large  number 
of  tliem  meet  in  class  and  enjoy  religion  ;  and,  also, 
that  many  of  the  elder  ones  are  helping  in  the  good 
w^ork  by  Sunday-school  teaching,  by  assisting  in  the 
singing  in  the  bazaar  services,  and  by  accompanying 
the  preachers  to  the  villages  around  to  teach  the  peo- 
ple. The  native  pastor  is  the  Rev.  W.  E,.  Bowen, 
one  of  the  original  orphan  boys,  and  now  a  good 
minister  of  Jesus  Christ.  It  was  very  pleasant  to  sit 
and  talk  with  Brother  Bowen  of  that  first  band  of 
boys.  As  name  after  name  was  called  from  the  list 
in  my  hands,  he  was  able  to  furnish  me  with  valuable 
information  of  many  of  them  as  to  his  school  days, 
his  conversion  and  life,  what  he  became,  who  he 
married,  and  where  he  is  now,  and  how  engaged. 
Boys  who  are  brouglit  up  together  know  one  another 
well,  and  their  testimony  as  to  each  other's  religious 
and  Christian  character  is  seldom  extravagant,  and 
generally  very  reliable.      It  made   it  all  the   more 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  367 

pleasant,  therefore,  to  me,  as  I  gave  the  name  of  his 
associates,  twenty  or  more  years  ago,  one  after  the 
other,  to  hear  Brother  Bowen  say  of  so  many,  "  Sa- 
hib, he  was  good,"  or  "  nice,"  or  ''  excellent,"  as  the 
case  might  be.  It  is  very  encouraging  that  they 
thus  hold  each  other  in  respect,  and  that  there  was 
so  little  of  a  contrary  character  to  qualify  this  gen- 
erous regard. 

I  found  it  more  difficult  to  trace  the  history  of 
the  orphan  boys  than  that  of  the  girls.  This  night 
have  been  expected.  But  I  have  done  all  that  was 
practicable  to  obtain  the  facts  concerning  them,  and 
now  present  the  ascertained  results  of  that  Orphanage 
to  the  cause  of  Christ  within  tlie  bounds  of  the  !N^orth 
India  Conference.  The  Shahjahanpore  Orphanage 
has  given  to  the  mission  since  its  origin  the  fol- 
lowing educated  helpers: 

Doctors  and  Apothecaries 4 

Colporteurs 4 

School  Teachers 27 

Exhorters 8 

Now  in  the  Theological  Seminary 4 

Local  Preachers  employed  in  the  work 41 

Members  of  Conference 19 

Total  Christian  workers 107 

Besides  these  there  are  36  engaged  in  secular  em- 
ployment as  artisans,  servants,  farmers,  railway  and 
government  service,  etc.,  who  are  members  in  our 
Church  and  congregations,  making   a  total  of  143 


368  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

saved  to  Christianity  by  that  Orphanage.  This  leaves, 
as  nearly  as  I  could  ascertain,  39,  who  must  be  ac- 
counted for  by  deaths,  removals,  and  failures,  making 
a  total  of  182,  besides  the  158  boys  who  are  still  in 
the  Orphanage.  This,  too,  is  a  record  for  which  our 
Church  may  well  feel  deeply  grateful  to  God.  Both 
Orphanages  have  fulfilled  our  every  hope,  and  have 
been  of  immense  blessing  to  our  work,  and  are  des- 
tined to  be  far  more  useful  in  the  days  to  come. 
For  the  results  achieved  and  the  hopes  we  cherish  we 
render  our  devout  and  adoring  thanks  to  God. 

Within  a  few  miles  of  Shahjahanpore  is  one  of  our 
two  Christian  villages.  We  have  about  eight  hundred 
acres  of  land,  granted  by  the  government,  where  we 
not  only  provide  for  persecuted  Christians  who  are 
turned  out  of  their  holdings  when  they  are  baptized, 
but  also  where  we  can  provide  for  such  of  our  orphan 
boys  as  do  not  develop  ability  to  become  teachers  or 
preachers.  Here,  as  farmers,  they  can  earn  a  living 
and  help  the  cause  as  members  of  the  Church  or  con- 
gregation. The  yield  of  two  crops  per  year  makes  a 
small  amount  of  land — five  to  eight  acres — sufficient 
for  the  support  of  a  family,  and  the  outfit  required 
(a  pair  of  bullocks,  plow,  tools,  seed,  a  central  well, 
and  a  little  house  and  furniture)  can  all  be  furnished 
for  $40  or  less.  When  the  house  is  built  and  the 
seed  is  in  the  ground  the  young  farmer  is  ready  to 
get  married,  and  with  a  Christian,  intelligent  wife  to 
help  him,  he  is  prepared  for  housekeeping.     Yes,  and 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  369 

a  great  deal  of  happiness  is  realized  in  those  little 
Christian  homes.  The  pastor  of  Panapore  (the  city 
of  refuge),  as  the  place  is  named,  is  Kev.  Horace  J. 
Adams  (named  for  his  patron  in  Lowell,  Mass.),  one 
of  the  earliest  orphan  hoys.  He  told  me  that  every 
one  in  the  village  is  supposed  to  attend  Sunday-school 
and  church.  In  many  homes  there  is  a  family  altar, 
and  the  place  does  not  contain  a  Sabbath  breaker,  not 
a  stroke  of  work  being  done  on  the  Lord's  day.  A 
nice  little  chapel  and  the  school  stand  at  the  head  of 
the  village.  The  whole  enterprise  is  self-sustaining, 
and  the  members  are  trained  to  do  all  they  are  able 
toward  the  support  of  their  pastor.  Money  is  yet 
but  little  known  there,  but  they  contribute  in  kind, 
so  many  quarts  of  various  sorts  of  grain,  which  the 
pastor  receives  and  accounts  for.  As  the  ability  of 
the  people  increases  these  contributions  augment,  and 
less  money  is  required  from  the  Society  for  the  bal- 
ance of  the  pastor's  salary,  the  expectation  being  that 
after  some  years  the  people  will  be  able  to  take  the 
entire  burden,  thus  becoming  self-supporting,  and  the 
Society  be  permanently  relieved  of  all  expense  on 
their  account. 

This  Christian  community  now  numbers  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty  souls,  of  whom  one  hundred  and  ten 
are  full  members,  and  thirtj^-four  probationers.  Of 
these  the  patriarch  is  old  Yakub  (Hindustanee  for 
Jacob),  who  was  one  of  the  first  in  the  valley  to  em- 
brace the  Christian  faith.  He  is  now  one  hundred 
24  « 


370  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

and  three  years  old,  has  a  rich  experience,  and  is  be- 
loved by  all.  He  is  still  able  to  go  round. among  the 
people  and  advise  and  influence  them  for  good,  and 
seems  to  be  in  possession  of  all  his  faculties.  It  was 
pleasant  to  be  remembered  by  the  dear  old  man,  and 
be  so  heartily  welcomed  back  again  by  him. 

We  leave  for  Nynee  Tal  and  the  mountain  district 
of  our  work  in  India.  Here,  too,  we  find  the  great 
improvements  which  are  quietly  spreading  over  the 
land.  An  excellent  road  now  connects  Bareilly  with 
Nynee  Tal,  seventy-four  miles  northward.  It  was 
impossible,  as  we  entered  the  comfortable  carriage,  to 
forget  that  night  of  gloom  in  1857,  when  we  left  in 
our  uncomfortable  doolies,  under  the  liability  of  being 
pursued  by  the  Sepoys,  and  if  not,  w^e  had  the  risks 
of  the  malarious  Terai  to  face.  But  now  the  carriage 
brought  us  to  the  Lai  Ktta  (the  red  well),  in  the  cen- 
ter of  the  Terai,  ere  day  faded.  Here  was  the  scene 
of  that  memorable  prayer  (mentioned  in  The  Land 
of  the  Veda\  where,  at  the  midnight  hour,  God 
wrought  out  for  us,  in  answer,  that  wonderful  escape 
from  those  "  perils  in  the  wilderness,"  which  can 
never  be  forgotten  by  ns,  either  in  time  or  in  eter- 
nity. To  pass  the  place  without  stopping  w^as  out  of 
the  question.  As  soon  as  we  reached  the  locality  I 
ordered  the  driver  to  halt,  and,  taking  off  my  hat, 
entered  the  forest,  and  stood  on  the  spot  where,  with 
uncovered  head,  that  dreadful  night,  I  so  agonizingly 
implored  divine  deliverance,  when  human  help  had 


From  Boston  to  Babeilly.  371 

utterly  failed,  and  a  fearful  death  seemed  so  immi- 
nent if  those  bearers  should  abandon  us  and  take 
away  the  only  torch,  as  they  declared  they  must  for 
their  own  protection  in  returning  to  their  station  out- 
side the  Terai !  I  trust  the  gratitude  now,  twenty- 
six  years  after,  w^as  not  unworthy  before  God  of  the 
prayer  and  w^onderful  deliverance  which  he  then  so 
promptly  sent  us.  The  locality  is  as  much  infested, 
all  the  way  up  to  Iluldwanee,  by  the  "  royal  Bengal 
tigers''  and  leopards  to-day  as  it  w^as  then.  In  evi- 
dence, I  need  only  mention  that  I  requested  my  good 
friend,  the  governor.  Sir  Henry  Ramsay,  to  let  me 
have  three  tiger  and  three  leopard  skins  to  take  back 
to  America.  He  promised,  and  they  were  shot  in 
that  Terai  last  April  and  sent  after  me.  The  largest 
— now  on  the  floor  of  our  sitting-room — has  a  face 
nearly  as  big  as  a  bullock  and  measures  over  eleven 
feet  long.  Since  I  left  India  the  railway  has  been 
completed  through  the  Terai,  and  wliat  a  terror  the 
scream  of  the  engine  and  the  glare  of  the  head-light 
must  be  now  to  those  fierce  brutes  as  the  train  rushes 
for  nearly  twenty  miles  through  their  wild  domain! 

Beautiful  Nynee  Tal !  It  looked  lovelier  than  ever 
as  we  entered  it  again  last  year.  The  little  settlement 
has  grow^n  into  a  great  sanitarium.  We  have  here  a 
self-supporting  English  Church  ;  but  our  native  work 
has  not  been  developed  as  it  might  be,  or  as  its  early 
liistory  led  me  to  liope  it  w^ould  be.  It  made  me  sad 
to  see  our  native  church — the  first  erected  in  our  mis- 


372  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

sion — rented  as  a  store,  and  religious  services  crowded 
inconveniently  into  the  scliool-liouse.  It  seemed  to 
nie  to  be  a  desecration  of  what  had  been  so  solemnly 
dedicated  to  the  worship  of  God.  I  do  not  know 
who  advised  this  course ;  the  object  was,  I  under- 
stand, to  obtain  by  the  rent  more  help  to  carry  on 
the  native  work.  I  may  wound  the  feelings  of  some 
one  in  uttering  these  words,  if  they  should  reach  In- 
dia, but  cannot  help  it.  I  must  be  excused,  for  I  col- 
lected the  means  and  built  that  church,  and  I  have 
a  conviction  that  its  restoration  to  its  original  use  and 
purpose  must  take  place  in  order  that  our  native  work 
may  be  prosperous  in  jN^ynee  Tal  as  well  as  our  En- 
glish work.  This  was  the  only  thing  in  all  our  mis- 
sion that  caused  me  pain  ;  and  it  was  the  more  keenly 
felt  because  the  prosperity  of  the  native  work  filled 
us  with  such  delight  every-where  else  tliat  we  went. 
I  cannot  but  hope  that  this  error,  as  I^  regard  it,  will 
soon  be  rectified,  and  God's  house  be  restored  to  his 
service,  and  the  requisite  help  for  the  work  be  other- 
wise provided  for. 

Engineering  skill  has,  as  far  as  we  can  judge,  made 
the  hill-side  safe  from  any  further  land-slide.  We 
lost  no  part  of  our  ground  by  the  former  slide.  Tlie 
situation  is  one  of  the  most  central  in  IS'ynee  Tal. 
"We  have  over  ^ve  acres  of  land,  which  with  the 
little  residence  I  purchased  from  Judge  Wilson  for 
one  thousand  six  hundred  and  fifty  rupees  (only  eight 
hundred  dollars),  and  it  would  to-day  bring  pi-obably 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  S73 

three  or  four  times  its  original  cost  if  we  were  dis- 
posed to  part  with  it.  The  growth  of  the  place  re- 
quires not  only  the  restoration  of  the  church  to  its 
proper  purpose,  but  also  another  chapel  for  the  lower 
bazaar  and  school. 

Our  mission  agents  here  are  treated  by  the  native 
community  in  the  most  cordial  manner.  Brother 
Kirk  (formerly  of  the  South  India  Conference),  one 
of  the  most  devoted  of  men,  is  greatly  esteemed  by 
thenu  And  the  native  preacher,  John  Barker,  and 
his  excellent  wife,  E-emotea  (one  of  Brother  Hum- 
phrey's medical  class),  are  so  popular  with  the  entire 
native  community  that  they  joined  in  a  formal  peti- 
tion to  Dr.  Humphrey,  on  his  return,  to  have  John 
and  Remotea  re-appointed  to  Kynee  Tal.  They  de- 
clared tliey  could  not  do  without  them,  and  especially 
without  Remotea  as  a  medical  lady.  So  they  were 
restored  to  them. 

One  of  the  most  pleasant  receptions  we  had  was  by 
the  natives  in  this  bazaar.  They  heard  of  our  coming 
up,  and  were  very  cordial.  The  old  tradesmen  and 
shop-keepers,  parents  of  our  former  scholars,  came 
out  of  their  stores  into  the  street  in  such  a  kind  and 
neigliborly  way,  and  welcomed  us  back  again.  As 
they  stood  round  my  pony,  amid  other  kind  things, 
several  of  them  referred  gratefully  to  the  great  advan- 
tages their  boys  had  derived  from  the  school  which  we 
had  opened  there  in  1857,  even  while  we  were  shut 
up  and  besieged  by  Khan  Bahadur,  and  told  me  what 


374  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

profitable  situations  some  of  tlieir  bojs  were  now  fill- 
ing as  a  result  of  the  education  we  gave  tliem  there. 
The}^  thus  esteem  us  as  friends  of  their  families  and 
promoters  of  their  welfare,  and  have  become  so  con- 
ciliated toward  Christianity  that  it  was  easy  to  think, 
in  reference  to  many  of  them,  that  they  were  "  not 
far  from  the  kingdom  of  God."  That  school  is  now 
self-supporting  by  the  fees  which  they  are  willing  to 
pay  to  sustain  it,  notwitlistanding  the  Christian  edu- 
cation we  give  in  it.  Dr.  Humphrey,  whom^they 
greatly  respect,  told  me  that  such  is  their  good-will 
that  wlien  his  Dispensary  began  to  run  out  of  medi- 
cine, he  had  only  to  intimate  the  fact  to  some  of  the 
young  men  whom  we  have  educated,  and  they  would 
go  round  that  bazaar  and  quietly  make  up  a  purse  of 
two  or  three  hundred  rupees,  and  bring  it  to  him  to 
replenish  his  stock.  Surely  there  is  a  harvest  ripen- 
ing here  that  will  yield  abundant  sheaves  to  some 
future  reaper. 

There  were  eighty  present  at  the  Sabbath  service 
in  the  school-house,  thirty  of  wliom  were  native 
Christians.  The  latter  could  be  picked  out  from  the 
rest  at  once  by  their  neat  and  tidy  appearance.  They 
were  bright  and  intelligent  looking.  In  the  lower 
bazaar  we  had  forty-five  of  a  congregation,  with  a  de- 
lightful sacramental  service  and  two  baptisms.  We 
went  to  visit  the  old  ^'  Sheep  House  "  (mentioned  in 
The  Land  of  the  Veda),  where  our  first  services  were 
held;  and  then  to  the  beautiful  little  cemetery,  wliere 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.        '       375 

dear  Mrs.  Tlioburn  and  my  own  sweet  babe  and  oth- 
ers are  awaiting  "  the  resurrection  of  the  dead." 

We  had  hurried  up  here  thus  soon  to  be  in  time 
to  attend  the  sessions  of  the  Kumaon  District  Con- 
ference. None  but  ourselves  can  know  liow  won- 
derfully that  name  sounded  in  our  ears.  Twenty- 
seven  years  ago  we  stood  here  on  our  defense  against 
our  deadly  foes,  who  were  in  the  gorge  below  us, 
watching  and  waiting  the  hour  when  they  might  rush 
up  and  destroy  us.  With  the  exception  of  the  mis- 
sion at  Almora,  in  these  mountains  there  was  not  a 
native  Christian  then,  nor  a  school  between  this  and 
Mussoorie,  seventeen  days'  journey  west.  The  six 
hundred  thousand  souls  scattered  in  little  villages 
down  in  these  valleys  and  on  the  sides  of  these  great 
mountains  knew  nothing  of  our  Saviour.  He  had 
not  a  friend  or  follower  among  them  all.  When  at 
length  our  foes  below  retired,  on  hearing  of  the  fall 
of  Delhi,  and  we  were  left  in  comparative  safety,  I 
was  led,  under  the  pressure  of  want  of  means  of  sub- 
sistence, to  venture  across  these  lowxr  Himalayas  to 
Landour,  above  Delhi,  w^here  we  learned  that  a  bank 
had  been  opened  and  I  could  sell  a  bill  on  London, 
and  once  more  have  some  money.  The  results  of  this 
memorable  journey  have  already  been  given  in  the 
sixth  chapter.  Both  in  going  and  returning  again  to 
!N'ynee  Tal  (for  we  could  not  yet  enter  Rohilcund, 
which  was  still  in  possession  of  the  Sepoys,  the  En- 
glish forces  being  only  strong  enough  to  hold  Delhi 


376  From  Boston  to  Baretlly. 

and  Lucknow,  which  thej  had  retaken,  and  awaited 
the  arrival  of  the  troops  which  were  hurrying  to  their 
help  from  England)  we  had  the  sad  evidence  all  the 
w^ay  as  to  the  condition  of  heathen  darkness  in  which 
these  mountaineers  were  sitting,  and  had  been  sitting 
for  long  ages  past !  Most  earnest  were  our  pleadings 
with  God  that  the  day  might  dawn  soon  upon  these 
poor  benighted  people  !  And  now  here  we  were 
again,  twenty-seven  years  after,  about  to  start  from 
IS'ynee  Tal  for  Dwarahat — three  days'  journey  into 
the  interior — and  for  what  purpose  ?  To  attend  a 
Methodist  District  Conference  in  the  very  center  of 
Kumaon  !  How  delightfully  true  had  the  words  be- 
come, and  also  as  applicable  as  ever  they  could  have 
been  to  those  of  whom  they  were  originally  spoken 
"  in  Galilee  of  the  Gentiles,"  that  "  t\\e  people  which 
sat  in  darkness  saw  great  light,"  and  "to  them 
which  sat  in  the  region  and  shadow  of  death  light  is 
sprung  up." 

Only  photographs  can  do  justice  to  the  wonder- 
ful roads  we  had  to  travel  during  this  three  days' 
journey.  Climbing  mountains  that  were  from  tliree 
to  ^ve  thousand  feet  high,  and  then  down  as  deep  on 
the  other  side;  on  up  a  valley  for  a  mile  or  two, 
and  then  another  rise  like  the  former.  We  had  to 
wind  round  precipices  that  made  the  head  dizzy  to 
look  down  below  to  the  little  river  whose  roar  was 
too  far  off  to  be  heard  at  such  an  elevation  ;  and 
yet,  within  an  hour  or  two  after,  we  were  fording 


From  Boston  to  BxiREiLLY.  377 

tliat  very  stream.  The  safest  way  to  go  is  in  a 
'*  dandy  " — a  sort  of  inclosed  cliair  with  a  pole  on 
either  side  and  cross-bars  at  the  ends ;  so  that  six  or 
eight  men,  whose  profession  this  is,  can  carry  you  up 
and  down  and  round  all  these  thrilling  points  in 
safety.  They  serve  you  for  four  annas  (twelve  and  a 
lialf  cents)  per  day,  and  go  anywhere  with  you.  The 
alternative  is  to  ride  on  a  ''tattu" — a  long-backed 
and  short-legged  pony.  But  on  such  a  journey  as  this 
many  are  too  timid  to  venture  to  ride  on  even  this 
safe  and  reliable  creature,  some  parts  of  the  narrow 
path  being  not  more  than  thirty-six  inches  wide,  and 
so  steep  that  you  have  to  clutch  the  long  mane  and 
liold  on,  lest  you,  saddle  and  all,  should  slip  off  and 
go  over  the  tattu's  tail  and  down  the  precipice  ! 

Rest  houses  are  found  at  the  end  of  each  day's  jour- 
ney, called  "  Dak  Bungalows,"  where  food  and  shelter 
can  be  obtained ;  and  welcome  sights  they  are  after 
the  toilsome  travel  of  the  day  is  over.  On  the  third 
morning  we  made  an  early  start,  as  the  Conference 
was  to  open  in  the  forenoon  and  we  wished  to  be  in 
time.  By  eight  o'clock  we  saw  Dwarahat  far  off  on 
the  side  of  a  high  mountain,  but  it  took  us  nearly  four 
hours  more  to  reach  it.  We  crossed  the  intervening 
valley  and  began  the  last  ascent ;  and  soon  after,  on 
turning  a  corner,  there  was  Dwarahat,  once  famous  as 
one  of  the  head-quarters  of  Himalayan  Buddhism. 
Thirteen  deserted  temples  of  that  faith  were  right 
before  us,  and  above  them  stood  out,  clear  and  dis- 


378  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

tinct,  our  Methodist  mission  buildings.  There  were 
the  church,  the  parsonage,  the  school,  the  dispen- 
sary and  hospital,  for  this  station  has  a  native  doctor 
resident.  It  was  enough  to  bring  a  shout  of  joy 
from  heart  and  voice  to  see  this  blessed  sight  on  that 
grand  mount,  while  the  eternal  snows  of  the  higlier 
Himalayas  rose  as  a  glorious  background  to  the 
Christian  picture ! 

The  road  led  from  this  point  right  up  to  the  church. 
We  were  a  little  late,  and  they  had  commenced  the 
opening  service.  The  Dak  Bungalow,  where  we 
rested  and  spent  a  solitary  Sabbath  on  our  way  to 
Mussoorie  in  1857,  and  from  which  we  looked  upon 
these  temples,  and  where  we  so  earnestly  prayed  that 
light  might  come  into  this  great  darkness,  was  on  our 
right  hand  as  we  ascended  ;  and  now  here  we  were, 
"going  up  to  the  house  of  the  Lord"  in  that  same 
Dvvarahat !  Soon  we  heard  "  the  voice  of  singing  " 
coming  down  through  the  open  door  to  meet  us  as  we 
toiled  up.  How  good  it  sounded !  We  first  recog- 
nized the  tune,  and  then  the  words  became  distinct. 
They  were  singing,  in  their  own  language,  the  hymn, 

"  0,  'twas  love,  'twas  wondrous  love, 

The  love  of  God  to  me  1 
It  brought  ray  Saviour  from  above, 

To  die  on  Calvary." 

Surprised  and  delighted,  I  paused  to  hear  the  holy 
strains  in  such  a  place.  They  seemed  also  such  a 
prophecy  of  the  future,  when  even  these  Himalayas 


From  Boston  to  Baretlly.  379 

shall  resound  with  the  joy  so  long  foretold :  "  Let 
the  inhabitants  of  the  rock  sing,  let  them  shout  from 
the  top  of  the  mountains  ! "  The  facts  and  the  antici- 
pations were  thrilling,  and  very  appropriate  to  the 
thoughts  and  feelinsrs  of  the  moment  seemed  the  lines 
of  Wordsworth : 

"  I  listened  lill  I  had  my  fill ; 
And,  as  I  mounted  up  the  hill, 
Tlie  music  in  my  heart  I  bore 
Long  after  it  was  heard  no  more." 

That  "  music  "  still  sings  in  our  memory,  and  will 
so  sing  for  many  a  long  day  to  come. 

We  were  gladly  received  by  the  brethren  and  sis- 
ters. Fifty-six  preachers,  teachers,  and  colporteurs, 
with  the  agents  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary 
Society,  were  here  "  in  Conference  assembled  ; "  and 
in  tlie  congregation  were  forty-six  orphan  girls  from 
the  Ladies'  Orphanage  at  Pauri.  They  looked  so  nice 
and  intelligent,  and  devout  as  well.  They  had  walked 
the  whole  distance,  eighty  miles,  and  barefooted,  too 
(shoes  not  being  considered  necessary),  and  did  it  as  a 
privilege  to  attend  the  special  religious  services  held 
in  connection  with  the  District  Conference.  The 
language  of  this  mountain  district  being  different 
from  that  of  the  plains  below,  this  Orphanage  is  a 
necessity  of  our  work  on  the  Himalaj^as.  Only  four 
American  brethren  are  connected  with  this  District 
Conference ;  all  the  rest  of  the  working  force  is 
native.     One  of  the  preachers,  baptized  by  the  name 


380  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

of  Thomas  Williams,  was  a  celebrated  Fakir,  but  was 
grandly  saved,  and  is  now  a  devoted  servant  of  God 
and  very  nsefnl. 

The  order  of  business  seemed  to  be  conducted  very 
thoroughly  and  in  the  best  spirit.  This  is  the 
smallest  of  the  four  District  Conferences,  but  I  was 
very  favorably  impressed  with  the  manner  and  devo- 
tion exhibited.  I  noted  tliat  at  the  early  morning 
service  there  were  one  hundred  and  twenty  persons 
present  to  pray  for  the  blessing  of  God  upon  the 
service  of  the  day.  My  address  to  the  Conference 
was  on  ministerial  fidelity,  and  its  great  reward  hei'e- 
after.  The  responses  of  the  brethren  showed  fully 
that  I  had  their  sympathy  with  me  in  the  consecra- 
tion to  their  high  duty  which  I  urged  upon  them. 
Those  responses  fully  satisfied  me  that  these  men 
were  animated  with  the  true  spirit  of  Methodist 
preachers,  and  that  they  were  worthy  of  the  love  and 
confidence  of  our  Church  at  home. 

During  the  miscellaneous  business,  notwithstanding 
their  effort  to  hide  from  me  what  they  were  consult- 
ing about,  I  caught  a  few  words  which  intimated  that 
they  were  planning  some  memorial  for  presentation 
to  us,  as  an  expression  of  their  gratitude,  and  which 
w^as  to  be  furnished  by  the  native  preachers  alone. 
The  matter  had  been  started  by  the  Oude  District 
Conference,  and  was  now  going  round  the  other 
Conferences.  I  rose  to  my  feet  and  pleaded  with 
them    to  stop  the   whole   thing ;    declaring   that   I 


From  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  381 

could  not  consent  to  see  them,  ont  of  their  humble 
allowances,  and  with  the  claims  of  their  children  for 
education,  and  their  own  want  of  books  for  their 
studies,  going  to  any  expense  of  this  kind  on  our 
behalf.  But  all  in  vain.  They  rose  and  pleaded, 
even  with  tears,  that  I  should  not  refuse  their  little 
offering  of  loving  gratitude.  Harkua — one  of  the 
orphan  bojs,  who  is  a  doctor  as  well  as  a  preacher — 
most  tenderly  reminded  me  of  the  past,  and  said : 
"  Sahib,  you  are  our  father  ;  to  you  we  are  indebted 
for  what  we  are  to-day ;  you  surely  w^ont  decline  the 
humble  memorial  of  our  gratitude  and  affection." 
He  broke  down  and  took  his  seat  weeping.  So  I  had 
to  submit,  or  I  should  have  made  every  man  of  them 
unhappy.  Yery  glad  they  became  when  I  yielded 
consent.  And  yet,  there  are  some  people  who  w^onder 
if  the  heathen  are  capable  of  gratitude  !  They  carried 
out  their  purpose,  and  at  the  Annual  Conference  at 
Cawnpore,  in  December,  the  presentation  w^as  made, 
after  the  w^liole  group  of  us  were  photographed  to- 
gether, Joel  being  placed  at  my  right  hand.  A  beauti- 
ful silver  cup  to  Mrs.  Butler,  with  an  Oxford  Bible 
for  myself,  on  the  fly-leaves  of  which  the  native 
preachers  had  written  their  names,  w^as  their  memo- 
rial. The  resolutions  which  passed  so  cordially  at 
this  District  Conference  I  need  not  present,  but  they 
will  be  cherished  among  my  treasures  as  long  as  I 
live.  How  little  I  imagined,  much  as  I  expected 
from  them,  when  I  took  up  those  dear  boys  that  I 


382  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

should  live  to  see  such  a  day  as  this  as  the  result ! 
Again,  thanks  be  to  God  for  his  mercies ! 

Those  thirteen  temples  which  stand  below  our  mis- 
sion are  all  in  the  usual  Buddhist  style — massive  cut- 
stone  erections.  Thirteen  temples  without  one  wor- 
sliiper.  "  The  Light  of  Asia  "  has  gone  out  forever 
here.  On  the  continent  of  India,  the  birthplace  and 
triumph  scene  of  that  faith,  you  find  no  worshiper  at 
Gautama-Buddha's  shrine.  A  prolonged  and  bloody 
persecution,  many  hundred  years  ago,  exterminated 
that  religion  from  the  land  of  its  birth,  and  you  can 
only  find  the  system  in  foreign  countries,  from 
Ceylon  to  Siam.  But  the  great  ruins  still  remain. 
"When  at  Benares  we  went  out  to  see  the  Top  at 
Sarnath,  the  most  venerable  and  leading  monument 
of  the  Buddhist  faith,  and  found  an  English  engi- 
neer with  a  staff  of  workmen  engaged  in  putting 
supports  and  buttresses  around  the  huge  pile  to  keep 
it  from  tumbling  down.  Another  Englishman,  Ed- 
win Arnold,  lately  gave  the  w^orld  an  evidence  of 
his  skill  in  propping  up  this  poor,  godless  system  of 
religious  opinion.  It  seems  a  pity  that  he  was  not 
candid  enough  to  give  his  readers  a  view  of  what 
lies  beneath  the  gilded  surface  of  the  hopeless  faith 
which  he  attempts  to  eulogize.  Especially  should  he 
have  put  a  picture  of  the  highest  agency  of  their  de- 
votions on  his  title-page  in  the  form  of  the  "  praying 
machine,"  which  is  used  by  them  so  extensively  in 
their   homes  and  temples!      But  that,  though   the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  383 

sad  and  solemn  result  of  the  system,  would  have 
made  people  laugh  at  its  absurdity,  and  the  author 
of  "  The  Light  of  Asia  "  preferred  to  act  as  do  cer- 
tain other  artists  with  the  repulsive  objects  which 
the  facts  in  the  scene  before  them  presents  to  view, 
when 

"  Whate'er  offends  the  sense, 

The  painter  casts  discreetly  into  shade." 

Certainly  the  day  of  judgment  will  have  no  re- 
wards to  confer  upon  writers  of  this  class,  for  such 
services  as  these.  Poor  Burmah,  w^ith  a  savage 
murderer  on  the  throne,  whom  the  English  govern- 
ment cannot  hold  diplomatic  intercourse  with,  on 
account  of  his  enormous  barbarity,  even  toward  his 
own  flesh  and  blood,  is  a  poor  recommendation  of  the 
civilization  produced  by  "The  Light  of  Asia;"  and 
yet  no  nation  is  more  orthodox  in  its  Buddhism  than 
is  that  dark  and  bleeding  land  ;  and  the  monster 
emperor  was  raised  and  educated  a  priest  of  the  sys- 
tem, and  knows  it  well.  There  was  a  report  that  his 
majesty,  or  the  king  of  Siam,  was  about  to  confer 
the  honor  of  "  The  Order  of  the  White  Elephant " 
upon  the  author  of  "  The  Light  of  Asia,"  for  the 
service  rendered  in  commending  their  system  to  the 
favorable  opinion  of  Christendom.  The  regalia  of 
the  dignity  will  not,  however,  be  counted  a  very  high 
honor,  when  that  time  comes — as  come  it  will — when 
the  temples  in  all  Buddhist  lands  are  as  completely 
deserted  of  their  worshipers  as  are  the  thirteen  which 


384  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

stand  so  lonely  beneath  the  Methodist  mission  at 
Dwarahat !  "  That  day  shall  dawn,"  as  sure  as  the 
promises  of  God,  because,  in  blessed  reality, 

"  The  Light  of  the  world  is  Jesus !  " 

And  of  him  every  teacher  of  men  will  have  to  say,  as 
he  bows  the  knee,  "  He  must  increase,  but  I  must 
decrease;"  because,  "He  that  cometh  from  heaven 
is  above  all." 

The  following  Sabbath  was  spent  at  Almora, 
the  place,  thirty  miles  from  Nynee  Tal,  to  which  we 
had  to  fly  on  that  weary  Sabbath  in  1857  when  we 
were  so  suddenly  ordered  off,  under  the  apprehension 
that  Khan  Bahadur's  troops  were  to  storm  our  posi- 
tion that  day  or  the  next.  It  w^as  a  great  pleasure, 
once  more,  to  meet  General  Sir  Henry  liamsay.  Com- 
missioner of  Kumaon,  that  noble  friend  of  our  mis- 
sion, whose  liberality  to  our  work  stands  almost 
equal  to  that  of  General  Gowan.  Their  munificence 
must  ever  hold  aij  honored  place  in  the  history  of  our 
missions  in  India,  and  will,  no  doubt,  receive  its 
reward  from  our  divine  Master  "in  that  day." 

One  of  the  sights  of  Almora  is  the  Leper  Asy- 
lum, founded  by  the  London  Missionary  Society, 
and  sustained  by  the  government.  Leprosy  in  India, 
unlike  that  of  Syria,  is  a  dry  leprosy,  and  not  usually 
considered  contagious.  But  it  mutilates  as  surely  as 
the  other.  The  ears,  lips,  nose,  toes,  and  fingers  rot 
off,  and   leave  the  poor  victim  hideously  deformed 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  385 

and  wretched.  Christian  sympathy  has  collected  to- 
gether from  all  parts  of  the  district  these  poor  creat- 
ures, and  has  surrounded  them  witli  such  comforts 
as  their  condition  requires,  instead  of  having  them 
occupy  the  highways  and  expose  their  miseries  in 
order  to  obtain  a  living.  A  large  piece  of  ground 
was  given  and  inclosed,  a  garden  planted,  suitable 
homes  provided  with  proper  supervision  and  medical 
help,  a  place  of  worship  was  added ;  sufficent  funds 
are  voted  for  support,  so  that  every  want  is  provided 
for.  On  the  Sabbath  afternoon  I  went  over  and 
preached  for  them,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Budden  kindly 
translating  for  me.  Of  the  one  hundred  and  twenty 
on  the  premises,  more  than  sixty  are  regular  attend- 
ants at  worship,  and  twenty-five  of  these  are  commu- 
nicants ;  twenty  of  the  members  have  been  tauglit  to 
read.  Only  one  of  them  remembered  me  as  having 
been  there  before.  One  of  them  was  a  blind  man, 
whose  face  was  so  pleasant  that  it  was  a  study. 
"When  the  hour  of  service  arrived  they  came  in. 
The  floor  was  covered  with  mats,  and  they  seated 
themselves  on  them,  in  regular  rows,  all  doing  their 
best  to  conceal  tlieir  deformity,  especially  of  the  nose 
and  lips,  by  shading  with  the  hand.  The  r^ffders 
and  church  members  sat  in  the  front  rows.  It  was 
very  affecting  to  see  the  readers,  as  they  followed  the 
minister  in  the  Scripture  lessons,  try  to  turn  the 
page  with  the  heel  of  tJie  hand,  the  fingers  being 

gone.     There  was  no  singing,  the  loss  of  the  lips  for- 
25 


386  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

bidding  it.  I  spoke  from  Luke  iv,  on  the  sympathy 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  for  people  of  their  class,  and  his  will- 
ingness and  ability  to  cleanse  them  from  a  more  deadly 
leprosy  than  any  that  can  afflict  the  body.  They  gave 
excellent  attention  to  what  I  said,  and  especially  w^hen 
I  spoke  of  the  glorious  change  which  would  be  theirs, 
if  they  loved  and  served  God,  when,  on  the  resurrec- 
tion morn,  he  would  "change  their  vile  bodies  and 
make  them  like  unto  his  own  glorious  body."  As  I 
said  this  it  brought  to  my  mind  an  incident  in  the 
life  of  Robert  Hall,  the  great  Baptist  minister  of 
England,  whose  mental  aberrations  occasionally  in- 
volved him  in  awkward  situations.  It  is  related  of 
him  that,  in  an  evening  party  where  he  was  present,  he 
fixed  his  gaze  so  earnestly  on  a  lady  sitting  opposite 
to  him  as  to  distress  her.  She  was  remarkable,  not  for 
beauty,  but  for  the  want  of  it.  Unable  to  endure  his 
gaze  any  longer,  she  expostulated  and  asked  him  what 
he  meant  by  it ;  when  he  replied,  with  a  charming 
candor :  that  he  "  was  trying  to  study  out  what  an 
amazing  change  for  the  better  the  morning  of  the 
resurrection  would  make  in  her  personal  appearance  !" 
So,  at  least,  I  thought  of  my  audience  at  Almora. 
What  change,  what  compensation,  will  "  that  day  "  be 
to  those  of  them,  w^lio  die,  as  Mr.  Budden  assured  me 
a  few  of  them  have  already  died,  trusting  in  Christ ! 
I  thought  it  might  be  a  ray  of  comfort  to  them  to 
hear  the  case  of  Laura  Bridgman,  of  South  Boston, 
and  show  them  how  she,  with  all  her  natural  disad- 


From  Boston  to  Barp:illy.  387 

vantages,  became  a  true  Cliristian  and  a  cultured 
ladj.  I  told  tliem  of  her,  that  she  never  saw,  never 
heard,  never  spoke — sight,  hearing,  and  speech  hav- 
ing been  denied  her — and  jet  she  became  a  happy 
Christian.  They  looked  up  with  such  interest,  and 
when  I  put  the  question  whether,  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  they  had  all  their  senses,  and  could  hear,  see, 
and  speak,  they  had  not  some  advantages  over  her 
for  which  they  could  be  grateful,  they  turned  to  each 
other,  and  the  poor,  dull  faces  lit  up  into  something 
of  a  smile  as  they  nodded  to  one  another  and  assented 
to  the  idea  that  they  had  something  loft  to  be  grate- 
ful for.  I  may  have  strained  the  point  in  trying  to 
comfort  them,  but  their  countenances  showed  I  suc- 
ceeded in  my  effort.  Even  here  the  value  of  our  Or- 
phanages comes  again  into  view.  The  devoted  couple 
who  have  charge  of  this  institution  were  educated 
by  us  at  Bareilly  and  Shahjahanpore.  She  was  one  of 
the  original  orphan  girls,  and  was  trained  by  Dr. 
Humphrey  as  a  medical  woman.  lie  was  educated 
as  a  teacher,  and  became  a  local  preacher.  Tliey  ac- 
cepted the  position  here,  and  so  these  one  hundred 
and  twenty  lepers  have  the  instruction  and  medical 
and  religious  care  which  they  require  resident  witli 
them.  The  government  medical  commission,  w4iich 
comes  round  once  in  five  years  on  a  tour  of  inspec- 
tion, wrote  in  their  report  regarding  this  institution 
the  significant  words,  "  Content  and  even  pleasant." 
In  returning  to  Nynee  Tal,  on  our  way  to  the  Plains 


388  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

again,  we  passed  bj  the  point  where,  on  that  Sunday 
night  of  our  flight  (referred  to  on  page  384),  my  horse 
hung  for  a  few  moments,  in  the  darkness,  on  the 
verge  of  that  awful  precipice,  where  only  the  Divine 
hand  saved  us  both  from  being  dashed  to  pieces.  In 
this  journey  one  climbs  up  out  of  narrow  valleys  and 
to  the  summits  of  high  mountains  (running  east  and 
west)  on  large  spaces  of  which  the  sun  never  shone 
since  tlie  creation.  He  cannot  get  round  them  to 
touch  them  with  his  rays.  You  ride  out  of  the  warui 
air  into  these  stretches  of  damp,  chilly  atmosphere — 
miles  long  sometimes — where  you  must  wrap  up  or 
run  the  risk  of  taking  serious  colds.  The  trees,  which 
grow  in  such  gloomy  localities,  are  loaded  with  a  hair- 
like moss,  hanging  down  from  one  to  three  feet  in 
length,  as  if  nature  there  was  draped  in  mourning. 
You  come  out  again  into  '^  the  blessed  sunlight,"  more 
than  ever  grateful  for  its  cheer  and  life-imparting 
power. 

In  leaving  Nynee  Tal  for  Moradabad  we  went 
down  on  the  west  side,  and  visited  our  other  Chris- 
tian village  at  the  foot  of  the  hills.  The  place  is 
named  Isanagar  (the  home  of  Jesus),  and  has  a 
Christian  population  of  nearly  one  hundred  souls. 
Rev.  Thomas  Gowan — the  third  orphan  boy  whom  I 
received — has  charge  of  this  circuit,  with  live  appoint- 
ments and  several  schools,  and  is  grandly  aided  by  his 
good  wife,  Florence  (one  of  the  orphan  girls).  Thomas 
met  us  at  the  foot  of  the  hills,  and  was  our  guide  into 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  389 

the  Bliabur.  When  we  came  in  siglit  of  the  place,  and 
the  villagers  saw  their  pastor  and  ourselves  corning, 
they  shouted  the  news  to  each  other  across  the  fields ; 
and  it  was  a  sight  to  see  them  unyoke  their  bullocks 
and  leave  the  plows  in  the  furrows  and  hurry  across  to 
intercept  us  on  the  road  to  welcome  us.  The  animals 
were  soon  put  up,  and,  knowing  1  had  but  a  few 
hours  to  stay  with  them,  they  came  just  as  they  were 
to  the  tent  (the  gift  of  General  Kamsay),  which  they 
use  as  a  chapel,  and  I  preached  to  them  from  the  text, 
"Have  ye  received  the  Holy  Ghost  since  ye  be- 
lieved ? "  Some  one  exhorted  after  me,  and,  before 
we  were  aware,  we  had  glided  into  a  pleasant  love- 
feast  and  had  a  good  time.  Then  they  served  us  with 
a  hearty  dinner  of  rice  and  curry,  and  in  half  an  hour 
after  I  was  preaching  to  them  again.  About  forty  of 
the  heathen  around  had  crowded  in  and  listened  with 
deepest  attention  to  all  that  was  said.  Now  this  en- 
tire enterprise  is  self-sustaining,  and  never  cost  our 
Missionary  Society  a  dollar.  The  people  are  very 
poor,  but  they  are  slowly  rising,  and  are  also  doing 
what  they  can  for  the  support  of  their  pastor,  paying 
in  kind,  like  the  other  Christian  village  near  Shahja- 
hanpore.  If  some  goo.d  man  or  woman  woukl  build 
them  a  little  chapel,  what  a  benediction  it  would  be  ! 
They  were  so  loving  and  kind,  I  was  greatly  delighted 
with  them. 

Moradabad,  forty  miles  south,  was  our  next  point. 
Here  was  where  I  had  that  struggle  to  obtain  our  dear 


390  FfiOM  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

girls.  At  that  time  our  congregation  at  this  place 
was  an  illustration  of  how  we  were  shut  up.  How 
dark  and  forbidding  the  prospect  was !  About  two 
women  and  twenty-five  men  constituted  the  usual  con- 
gregation here.  Now  the  congregation  is  one  of  the 
largest  in  the  Conference,  and  the  majority  are  wom- 
en. Besides  the  church  at  the  mission  premises, 
they  have  a  church  in  the  very  center  of  the  city, 
which  is  admirably  arranged  and  commodious,  and 
has  a  tower  and  clock  upon  it.  On  the  Sabbath  it  is 
filled.  The  galleries  are  latticed,  so  that  zenana  ladies 
can  come  in  their  palanquins,  and  go  up  and  be  en- 
tirely to  themselves,  looking  down  tlirough  the  lattices 
on  the  audience  below  without  themselves  being  seen, 
and  yet  hearing  all  that  is  said.  This  was  Brother  and 
Sister  Parker's  idea,  and  on  several  occasions  they 
have  drawn  out  the  ladies  to  see  an  illustrated  lecture 
on  some  Scripture  theme,  or  other  entertainment — 
quite  an  event  in  their  poor  secluded  lives,  and  which 
will  lead  to  something  better  and  more  freedom  ere 
long.  What  hard,  devoted  work  Brother  and  Sister 
Parker  have  put  into  this  mission  since  they  came  to 
India  in  1859,  and  what  a  monument  their  success  is 
to  them  to-day  !  Long  may  their  efiicient  and  faith- 
ful services  be  spared  to  our  work  in  India  ! 

The  schools  established  here  by  Bev.  J.  T.  and 
Mrs.  Goucher,  of  Baltimore,  are  already  a  great  power 
for  good,  and  are  destined  to  aid  in  developing  the 
work  of  God  in  Bohilcund  to  an  extent  that  will,  no 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  391 

doubt,  be  a  joy  to  them  forever.  Shulukh  and  Jane 
Plurner  (two  of  the  original  band  of  orphan  girls 
trained  as  female  physicians)  are  here  earning  a  com- 
fortable support  by  their  medical  practice.  We  vis- 
ited the  Dispensary,  and  were  greatly  pleased  to  Und 
two  of  our  girls  so  honorably  and  usefully  employed. 
The  best  singing  we  had  yet  heard  in  our  mission 
was  what  we  listened  to  here.  They  have  in  the  city 
one  thousand  and  seventy-one  Sunday-school  scholars, 
and  raised  the  banner  collection  for  the  Missionary 
Society  of  all  the  native  Churches,  the  amount  being 
eighty-nine  rupees.  The  list  lies  before  me,  and 
Beems  to  include  most  of  the  members  of  the  Church, 
and  the  amount  contributed  runs  from  about  two 
dollars  to  three  cents  each.  Brother  Gill  told  us  that 
some  of  his  people  contributed  to  the  collection  a  full 
week's  salary ;  two  or  three  gave  two  weeks,  and  one 
gave  a  month's  pay.  Well  done,  Moradabad  native 
Church  !  A  good  old  man,  by  the  name  of  Kundan, 
came  in  twice  from  the  district,  walking  forty  miles 
each  time,  to  see  and  welcome  us.  With  tears  he 
"  thanked  God  that  he  had  lived  to  see  the  day  when 
Dr.  Butler  came  back  to  India,"  and  then  he  turned 
and  requested  our  prayers  on  behalf  of  his  wife,  w^ho 
is  still  unconverted.  He  is  the  old  man  who  is  so 
fond  of  the  hymn, 

"  I  lea  it  all  with  Jesus." 

By  a  rising  vote  the  congregation  requested  me  to 
send  their  salaam  (loving  regards)  to  the  members 


392  Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

of  our  Church  in  the  Mexican  Mission,  with  their 
hearty  wishes  for  their  w^elfare  and  Christian  fidelity. 
Here,  too,  I  had  the  privilege  of  baptizing  quite  a 
number  of  babies,  the  children  of  our  former  orphan 
girls;  the  grateful  mothers  being  so  pleased  that  I 
should  do  this  for  them  that  it  was  really  a  delight 
to  gratify  them.  And  here  let  me  say,  w^hile  refer- 
ring to  these  India  babies,  that  I  feel  assured  I  am 
not  at  all  mistaken  when  I  declare  I  never  saw  such 
w^ell  conducted  babes  in  any  part  of  the  world  as 
are  those  in  India.  The  mothers  are  zealous  about 
attending  the  means  of  grace,  and  do  not  think  that 
having  a  baby  excuses  them  from  doing  so.  Not  one 
in  twenty  of  them  is  able  to  afford  to  keep  any  help 
(cheap  though  that  help  is  there),  so,  unless  they  h?  ve 
an  older  child  able  to  take  charge  of  the  little  one  in 
their  absence,  if  they  are  to  attend  worship  they  must 
take  the  baby  with  them.  I  have  seen  fifteen  tc 
twenty  of  these  babies  in  an  audience,  and  I  was  con- 
stantly surprised  to  w^itness  how  good  and  quiet  they 
were.  Sometimes  a  whole  service  would  go  over 
without  a  single  cry  being  heard  ;  and  even  when 
one  of  them  would  begin  to  whimper  (and  it  seldom 
rose  above  that),  and  the  mother  could  not  hush  it  to 
silence,  she  would  leave  with  it,  but  in  ten  minutes 
return  with  the  pacified  little  one,  and  there  would  be 
no  further  trouble  or  disturbance  from  them.  They 
certainly  are  an  example  to  all  the  babies  of  Christen- 
dom that  I  have  ever  seen  for  good  behavior  in  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  393 

house  of  God  !  As  little  ones  they  are  handsome. 
Their  warm  olive  color  prevents  them  showing  any 
paleness,  and  their  little  bright,  black  eyes,  shining 
like  animated  diamonds,  give  them  a  very  pleasing 
aspect. 

Our  next  visit  was  to  Budaon,  lying  south-east  from 
Moradabad,  and  thirty  miles  from  Bareilly.  This 
was  the  first  place  in  India  in  which  I  administered 
the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  A  few  days 
after  my  arrival  at  Bareilly,  in  1857, 1  received  a  note 
from  the  English  judge  of  Budaon  (the  only  white 
man  in  that  district  of  eight  hundred  thousand  peo- 
ple) requesting  me  to  visit  Budaon  and  give  a  Sab- 
bath service  to  his  family.  At  that  time  there  was 
no  made  road  from  Bareilly  to  Budaon  over  which  a 
carriage  could  run  ;  so  the  judge  arranged  to  bring 
me  through  by  sending  out  a  couple  of  elephants, 
w^hich  he  had  stationed  at  suitable  distances,  and  on 
tlieir  backs  I  went  over  the  thirty  miles  in  about  six 
hours.  I  spent  a  very  interesting  Sabbath  with  this 
pious  Episcopalian  family,  and  ministered-to  them  in 
holy  things,  but  had  little  idea  in  what  peril  they 
would  find  themselves  within  six  weeks  of  that  visit, 
and  how  wonderfully  God  was  to  work  out  the  deliv- 
erance of  each  of  them,  though  separated  from  each 
other  in  the  confusion.  The  facts  are  given  in  The 
Land  of  the  Veda. 

Now  I  am  returning,  twenty-seven  years  after,  to 
that  city  and  district,  to  see  what  God  has  wrought 


304  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

meanwhile.  After  the  Sepoy  Eebellion  I  went  through 
the  tow^ns  of  that  district,  and  cannot  cease  to  remem- 
ber the  intense  solicitude  with  which  I  surveyed  that 
region  of  spiritual  darkness.  I  never  offered  more 
earnest  supplication  to  God  for  any  object  than  I  did, 
as  I  went  prospecting  around  through  these  villages 
and  towns,  that  God  might  have  mercy  upon  the  long- 
benighted  nniltitudes,  and  raise  up  there  Christian 
Churches  and  an  indigenous  agency  of  leaders,  local 
preachers,  Sunday-school  workers,  etc.  I  distinctly 
remember  going  over  just  such  enumeration,  and  then 
realizing  keenly  how  naked  my  faith  was,  not  a  soul 
of  them  having  yet  heard  of  the  Gospel ;  but  still  I 
clung,  in  an  agonizing  desire,  to  the  blessed  hope  that 
lie  who  could  "  call  the  things  \vhich  are  not  as 
though  they  were,"  would,  in  his  infinite  compassion 
and  mercy,  bring  about  this  result.  He  heard  these 
jjrayers ;  how  he  answered  them  the  facts  will  show. 
The  brethren  kept  saying  to  us,  in  the  south-east  of 
our  mission  (in  and  around  Lucknow),  as  they  saw 
our  delight  w^ith  what  we  witnessed,  "O,  wait  till 
you  reach  Eohilcund,  and  you  wnll  see  the  strength 
of  Methodism  there."  In  company  w^ith  the  presid- 
ing elder.  Brother  Thomas,  w^e  went  to  Budaon,  to 
attend  the  Quarterly  Conference.  I  had  no  adequate 
idea,  before  going,  how^  developed  Christianity  had 
become  throughout  that  circuit,  and  they  might  well 
anticipate  how  surprised  and  delighted  I  w^ould  be 
at  the  sight  of  that  Quarterly  Conference. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  395 

On  entering  the  place  where  tlie  Conference  was 
assembled  I  saw  iifty-seven  members — seven  of  them 
being  ladies — awaiting  us.  In  my  day  fifty-seven 
persons  were  regarded  a  goodly  number  as  a  congre- 
gation ;  but  here  was  that  number  now  of  official 
brethren  and  sisters — class-leaders,  Sunday-school  su- 
perintendents, local  preachers,  and  other  officers  of 
our  Church  in  that  Budaon  Circuit.  I  have  not  seen 
a  more  devout  and  orderly  Quarterly  Conference  any- 
where. The  business  proceeded  in  full  disciplinary 
style.  Every  part  of  the  work  was  well  represented, 
the  reports,  generally  prepared  and  written,  were 
clear,  zealous,  and  spiritual — the  substance  being 
translated  to  me  as  they  proceeded.  To  show  how 
the  Gospel  is  penetrating  this  population  I  quote  a 
sentence  of  one  of  their  reports.  The  native  preacher 
said :  "  I  have  twenty-seven  villages  in  my  sub-cir- 
cuit, and  Christians  in  every  one  of  them."  Here, 
too,  the  cause  has  become  so  strong  that  our  people 
are  able  to  hold  their  temporal  position  notwith- 
standing they  have  become  the  followers  of  Christ. 
Hitherto  they  generally  had  to  surrender  position,  re- 
lations, and  proj^erty  when  they  became  Christians ; 
and  many  who  desired  to  follow  their  example  were 
deterred  from  doing  so  by  the  fearful  sacrifices  which 
these  had  to  endure.  But  a  better  day  is  dawning, 
and  a  more  rapid  extension  of  the  work  will  be  the 
certain  result,  as  well  as  a  higher  ability  to  support 
the  cause  which  will  be  espoused.    , 


396  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

The  seven  female  members  of  the  Quarterly  Con- 
ference— all  educated  women,  and  in  that  respect 
occupying  a  higher  intellectual  position  than  the 
average  of  the  members  of  that  Conference — were, 
with  some  exceptions,  members  of  the  normal  class 
of  the  Orphanage.  The  reports  of  their  quarter's 
work  were  rendered  with  a  clearness  and  style  that 
was  a  credit  to  their  training.  I  looked  at  them 
with  surprise  and  gratitude  to  God.  There  was 
more  in  that  Quarterly  Conference  than  I  had,  at  the 
first  sight  of  it,  supposed ;  and  it  was  manifest  that 
our  Methodistic  system  suited  them  exactly.  They 
evidently  appreciated  it,  and  could  work  it  well. 
Surely  the  future  was  here  provided  for.  Our  cause, 
as  a  precious  system  of  evangelism,  could  be  safely 
intrusted  to  hands  like  these.  It  was  the  ripest  prod- 
net  of  our  disciplinary  methods  which  I  had  yet  seen 
in  India,  and  impressed  me  intensely,  and  intimated 
such  a  future  that  my  whole  heart  went  out  to  them 
in  loving  confidence.  Here  my  feelings  nearly  over- 
came me,  and  I  found  I  was  sobbing  aloud  before  I 
could  get  control  of  myself.  What  a  full  heart  of 
gratitude  to  God  was  mine  that  hour,  and  what  a 
blessed  hope  of  the  glorious  future  which  seemed  so 
sure  to  come  through  the  faithful  services  of  these 
devoted  brethren  and  sisters  and  their  successors ! 

It  was  easy  for  me  now  to  fully  appreciate  the  ap- 
peal of  Dr.  Waugh  when,  after  pointing  out  to  me 
the  conviction  of  our  missionaries  that  our  Gospel 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  397 

had  so  penetrated  the  minds  of  the  people  of  this 
district,  by  means  of  our  itinerant  preaching  through 
their  villages  and  in  the  bazaars,  and  by  our  schools 
and  the  circulation  of  the  Holy  Scriptures  and  our 
Christian  books  and  tracts,  it  is  held  as  a  convic- 
tion by  all  here  that  they  are  on  the  eve  of  a  mighty 
movement,  in  which  immense  masses  of  these  people 
may  one  day  abandon  idolatry  forever,  and  slide 
down,  like  an  avalanche,  toward  Christianity,  and  en- 
treat that  they  be  instructed  and  saved.  They  have 
lost  faith  in  a  system  which  they  have  trusted  so 
long,  but  from  which  they  have  derived  no  saving 
benefit.  They  plainly  see  their  Christian  neigh- 
bors are  better  and  more  enlightened  than  them- 
selves ;  and  the  only  thing  now  needed  is  to  get 
before  their  minds  that  the  reason  of  this  difference 
is  made  by  the  grace  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  which  these 
people  have  received  by  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  How  suddenly,  and  savingly  too,  this 
change  may  come  to  multitudes  of  them  was  being 
illustrated  (March,  1885),  as  these  sheets  were  pass- 
ing through  the  press,  at  the  great  mela  at  Adjudia ; 
where  in  three  days  two  hundred  and  forty-eight 
men  and  women  (one  half  of  them  Bralimans)  were 
led  to  Christ  under  the  preaching  and  testimony  of 
two  of  our  native  ministers!  This  is,  probably, 
the  most  wonderful  religious  fact  that  has  taken 
place  in  India,  and  shows  the  divine  power  there  is 
in  the  argument  from  exjperience^  when  presented  in 


398  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

faith  and  witli  a  loving  heart  to  these  people  bj  men 
who  are  themselves  converted  and  full  of  the  Holy 
Spirit. 

The  appeal  made  by  Dr.  Waugli  was  based  upon 
considerations  of  this  character.  But  he  startled  me 
when  he  asked,  what  was  our  mission  to  do  when 
this  breaking-down  time  came,  and  these  multitudes, 
whom  they  had  so  long  been  instructing,  would  yield 
and  turn  to  them  for  help  and  instruction  in  seeking 
salvation  ?  I  did  not  comprehend  at  first  what  diffi- 
culty stood  in  the  way  of  the  mission  doing  all  that 
was  necessary  to  help  them  and  utilize  such  a  glorious 
opportunity.  But  the  doctor  asked  me  to  look  at  the 
condition  of  their  work  and  say,  where  was  the  man 
whom  they  could  spare  from  existing  labors  to  go  to 
the  help  of  those  people  were  they  to  appeal  to  them 
to-morrow?  Every  missionary  and  native  preacher 
and  leader  they  have  is  already  under  all  the  tension 
they  can  bear  to  fulfill  the  duties  laid  on  them  by  the 
Annual  Conference.  For  new  work,  no  matter  how 
energetic  or  important,  they  have  neither  the  men 
nor  the  means.  They  are  crowded  already  by  their 
success!  They  have  appealed  again  and  again  for 
more  financial  aid  in  order  to  educate  the  young  men 
whom  God  has  given  them,  and  get  them  ready  for 
the  enlargement  of  their  work.  But  the  Missionary 
Society  is  unable  to  respond,  and  so  half  of  this  pre- 
cious material  is  not  utilized,  and  they  are  looking 
forward  with  anxious  hearts  to  a  demand  upon  them 


*  From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  399 

which  they  know  tliey  are  not  able  to  meet  with- 
out abandoning  existing  work,  which  is  not  to  be 
thouglit  of. 

Will  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  Church  allow  this 
serious  condition  of  things  to  continue?  Are  not 
the  reraainder  of  these  twenty  million  of  souls,  "  for 
whom  Christ  died,"  as  valuable  as  are  the  few  thou- 
sands whom  we  have  already  won  from  among  them  ? 
Will  not  our  people  provide  for  the  rising  wants  and 
wide  extension  of  their  mission  in  India,  and  espe- 
cially while  God  is  working  so  graciously  and  bidding 
them  "Go  forward''?  Surely  they  will  do  so,  for 
the  present  demand  is  the  result  of  their  own  praying 
and  liberality.  They  implored  God  to  remove  every 
obstruction  out  of  the  path  of  his  Gospel  in  that 
land,  and  open  a  way  for  the  salvation  of  tliose  mill- 
ions, so  that  his  Son  might  have  magnificent  India 
"  for  his  inheritance ;  "  and  up  to  the  measure  of 
their  liberality,  and  far  beyond  it,  has  He  blessed 
their  work  for  him.  ISTow  he  makes  further  appeal 
for  more  means  to  accomplish  "  greater  things  tlian 
these."  Will  the  Church  be  wortliy  of  her  Lord  and 
his  leading  ?  Will  she  brinof  "  the  tithes  into  tlie 
store-house . . .  and  prove"  him  tlierewith  "  to  open  the 
windows  of  heaven,  and  pour  "  them  "  out  a  blessing 
that  there  shall  not  be  room  enough  to  receive  it?'' 
If  so,  the  scale  of  average  liberality  must  soon  become 
very  different  from  what  it  is  to-day.  An  average 
of  forty  cents  each  for  the  redemption  of  tlie  world 


400  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

is  a  poor  evidence  of  a  serious  purpose  on  the  part 
of  a  Church  to  bring  the  woi'ld  to  God !  Were  the 
average  contribution  from  our  people  four  or  five 
dollars  each,  then,  indeed,  we  might  begui  to  look 
np,  for  our  redemption  would  be  drawing  nigh,  and 
the  millennium  would  be  dawning  upon  the  world ! 
The  "million  of  dollars,"  now  anticipated  with  so 
much  interest,  is  liberal,  but  it  is  only  so  in  com- 
parison with  the  past  niggardly  giving.  God  is  very 
patient  with  us  in  condescending  to  accept  hitherto 
such  poor  offerings  at  our  hands.  But  does  he  not 
expect  '•  the  tithes  "  to  be  brought  in,  and  can  he 
be  satisfied  with  less,  if  less  will  not  suffice  to  save 
the  world?  He  certainly  does,  and  requires  at  our 
hands  "  the  firstlings  of  our  flock  and  the  fat  there- 
of" to  be  laid  upon  his  altar  in  consecration  to 
this,  the  supreme  duty  and  service  of  his  Church. 
He  wants,  in  addition  to  our  money,  our  cultured 
and  precious  sons  and  daughters,  to  be  given  up  for 
his  glorious  service.  He  "gave  his  own  Son"  to 
the  same  work,  and  he  expects  our  children  to  be 
consecrated  to  it.  O  for  a  baptism  of  liberality 
npon  the  people  of  God,  that  they  may  in  deed 
and  in  truth  render  to  the  Lord  what  they  so  often 
profess  to  do  when  they  sing  : 

"  '  Here.,  at  that  cross  where  flows  the  blood 
That  bought  my  guilty  soul  for  God, 
Thee,  my  new  Master,  now  I  call, 
And  consecrate  to  thee  my  alV  " 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly,  401 

After  tliis  solemn  engagement,  made  in  our  better 
moments,  how  serious  if  we  go  back  on  tliat  conse- 
cration, and  sliow,  by  our  want  of  liberality,  that  we 
did  not  7nean  what  we  said  to  God ! 

One  of  the  female  members  of  that  Quarterly 
Conference  has  a  remarkable  history.  She  was  the 
little  daughter  of  people  w^ell  to  do,  and  was  stolen 
one  evening  by  thieves  for  the  sake  of  the  ornaments 
that  she  had  on  her  person.  Kext  morning  she  was 
found,  utterly  destitute,  by  a  native  policeman,  and  by 
him  was  taken  to  the  court  of  the  English  magistrate, 
who,  unable  to  find  her  friends,  sent  the  poor  little 
waif  to  the  missionary.  Brother  Hoskins,  who  for- 
warded her  to  Bareilly,  where  she  was  received  into 
the  Orphanage.  In  a  few  years  she  developed  into  ii 
young  woman  of  such  culture  that  she  was  sent  to 
Budaon  to  be  employed  as  a  Bible  woman.  One  day, 
in  visiting  the  houses  of  that  city  to  read  and  explain 
the  Scriptures  to  the  women,  she  entered  one  where 
an  old  lady  sat  in  the  corner  of  a  room.  Something 
about  the  face  and  voice  of  the  young  visitor  startled 
the  old  woman.  She  gazed  and  listened  till  she  could 
endure  no  more,  and,  rushing  across  the  apartment, 
laid  her  hands  on  the  girl,  and  eagerly  asked  her : 
"  Are  you  not  the  daughter  of  Luchman,  the  gold- 
smith?" It  was  the  grandmother.  Identification 
followed,  and  they  rejoiced  over  the  recovery  of  the 
lost  one  whom  they  had  mourned  as  dead.     Even  her 

Christianity  was  found  no  serious  bar  to  their  revived 
26 


402  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

love.  They  could  not  but  admire  the  nice,  educated 
girl  that  stood  before  them,  whom  Christianity  had 
saved,  and  for  whom  it  had  done  so  much  ;  so  she  was 
taken  to  their  heart  again,  Christianity  and  all.  Eliz- 
abeth (her  baptismal  name)  soon  after  was  married 
to  the  son  of  Samuel,  one  of  our  first  preachers,  and 
whose  triumphant  death  at  Shahjahanpore  has  been 
often  referred  to.  Elizabeth's  husband  is  also  a 
preacher,  and  at  present  a  candidate  for  admission 
into  the  local  ministry. 

In  connection  with  this  station  there  occurred,  in 
its  early  history,  a  fact  that  was  unique  of  its  kind, 
and  the  results  of  which  I  was  interested  enough  to 
inquire  into  on  this  occasion.  A  man  by  the  name  of 
Presgrave,  about  the  close  of  the  year  1859,  came  un- 
der the  influence  of  the  Gospel,  and  applied  for  bap- 
tism and  admission  into  the  Church  on  probation. 
On  inquiry  we  found  that  he  had  two  wives,  and  we 
told  him  it  w^as  out  of  our  power  to  receive  him  in 
that  condition.  He  pleaded  that  the  entire  family 
w^ere  ready  and  willing  to  come  with  him  into  Chris- 
tianity, and  he  wanted  them  to  be  received  along  with 
himself  without  disturbing  their  relations.  He  seemed 
so  honest  and  earnest  that  we  felt  much  for  him,  but 
explained  to  him  that,  under  the  Christian  law  of 
marriage,  we  could  not  baptize  and  receive  either 
himself  or  them  in  their  present  relations.  He  be- 
came greatly  distressed,  but,  after  much  conversation 
upon  the  matter,  declared  his  willingness  to  give  up 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  403 

his  polygamy,  and  live  with  one  wife  only,  and  was 
even  willing  to  be  married  to  that  one  by  Christian 
rites.  This  brought  up  the  question  as  to  which  of  the 
two  he  should  retain,  and  he  appealed  to  us  to  decide 
this  matter  for  him.  I  shrank  from  such  a  respon- 
sibihty,  and  told  him  he  must  decide  this  question  for 
himself.  They  were  both  equally  his  wives  by  the 
law  of  his  former  religion,  and  they  had  married  him 
in  good  faith.  The  ease  was  even  more  difficult  than 
this.  His  first  wife,  to  whom  he  was  much  attached, 
had  brought  him  no  children,  and  she  pined  under 
this  privation,  chiefly  on  his  account.  She  knew 
that  Menu,  in  his  Institutes  of  Hindu  Law^  had  or- 
dained that,  under  such  a  condition  of  things,  a  second 
marriage  was  a  sort  of  duty,  so  that  the  husband 
might  have  a  son  to  officiate  at  his  shraad  (the  funeral 
ceremonies),  in  order  to  insure  for  the  father  a  happy 
transmigration.  This  idea  prevails  all  over  India, 
and  is,  after  all,  the  leading  reason  for  a  second 
marriage. 

The  first  and  childless  wife  herself  sno^orested  tliis 
course  to  her  husband,  and  declared  that  she  would 
regard  the  children  born  of  the  second  marriage  as 
her  own,  and  love  them  as  such.  He  accordingly  took 
another  wife,  and  fi\Q  children  were  the  fruit  of  the 
second  marriage.  It  was  after  the  eldest  daughter 
of  that  marriage  had  grown  up  and  was  herself  a  wife 
that  this  contact  with  Christianity  occurred.  In  re- 
sponse to  his  earnest  request  that  we  should  decide  for 


404:  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

liim,  we  urged  liiin  to  return  home  and  settle  this  se- 
rious question  after  full  consideration  with  all  con- 
cerned. He  went,  and,  I  presume,  did  his  best,  but 
failed  to  reach  a  conclusion  in  which  thej  could  all 
agree.  Willing  to  do  right,  but  unable  to  see  the 
way  to  accomplish  it,  in  view  of  the  conflicting  hearts 
and  interests  involved,  the  distracted  husband  and  fa- 
ther loaded  the  whole  family  on  his  bullock-cart  and 
came  to  Bareilly.  I  wa&  called  in  from  my  vrork  one 
day  to  find  the  entire  circle  in  the  sitting-room.  The 
father  opened  the  subject  by  stating  that  they  had 
tried  to  settle  the  matter  among  themselves,  but  had 
not  been  able  to  do  so,  and  so  he  had  brought  them 
all  in  to  have  us  aid  them  to  a  conclusion.  The  cru- 
cial question  was,  which  of  the  wives  should  be  dis- 
carded ?  I  anxiously  looked  up  to  the  Lord  for  wis- 
dom in  the  emergency,  and  soon  found  myself  ap- 
pealed to  as  judge  in  the  matter  by  both  sides.  It  was 
pathetic  to  the  last  degree  to  hear  them,  and  especially 
the  two  poor  wives,  pleading  their  own  claims.  The 
first  and  oldest  urged  that  she  had  been  a  true  and 
faithful  wife  to  her  husband  all  her  married  life,  and, 
though  God  had  denied  her  the  children  she  longed  to 
have,  especially  for  his  sake,  yet  her  fidelity  and  af- 
fection ought  to  plead  for  her  in  this  hour,  so  that  she 
might  not  become  the  discarded  one.  Then  the  other 
wife  urged  her  claims,  not  only  love  and  duty  faith- 
fully performed,  but  also  the  five  children  that  she 
had  brought  to  him,  and  pleaded  with  tears  that  she 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  405 

ought  not  to  be  tlie  one  rejected.  'No  word  of  bitter- 
ness or  recrimination  was  uttered  by  either  party. 
All  spoke  under  the  sense  of  the  heavy  sacrifice  which 
Christianity  was  then  demanding  of  tliem,  and  also 
with  full  respect  for  the  feelings  and  convictions  of 
the  husband  and  father.  The  children  sat  looking  on 
with  an  anxious  and  foreboding  aspect  that  was  pain- 
ful to  contemplate.  All  the  time  my  heart  was  going 
up  in  prayer  for  the  merciful  intervention  of  Him 
whose  holy  and  inflexible  law  was  requiring  this  sac- 
rifice from  those  who  would  be  his  followers,  so  that 
we  might  be  guided  wisely,  and  without  any  compro- 
mise which  he  would  reject,  from  out  of  the  midst  of 
these  painful  and  intricate  circumstances  into  which 
their  false  religion  had  led  them. 

I  felt  a  strong  hope  that,  in  view  of  the  hus- 
band's manifest  anxiety  to  do  what  was  right  before 
God,  the  merciful  One  above  would  not  leave  us  in 
this  terrible  perplexity,  but,  in  some  way  or  other, 
would  cause  "  light  to  rise  upon  this  obscurity."  But 
I  could  not  imagine  how  it  was  to  be  done.  It  is 
often  said  thaf  "man's  extremity  is  God's  oppor- 
tunity."- It  certainly  was  so  here ;  for,  when  the 
pleadings  were  ceasing,  and  the  solemn  silence  was 
creeping  over  us,  and  each  heart  seemed  hushed  to 
listen  for  the  decision  which  must  come  now  from 
some  quarter  to  solve  the  difficulty  and  save  the 
whole  effort  from  a  confusion  and  collapse  that  would 
surely  sacrifice  the  future  peace  ,and  love  of  this  anx- 


406  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

ious  family,  and  effectually  impede  their  conversion 
to  Christianity,  then  help  seemed  to  come  from 
heaven.  The  eldest  daughter  of  the  second  wife, 
herself  married,  and  with  her  babe  on  her  bosom, 
stirred  by  an  impulse  that  seemed  to  impel  her  to 
most  decided  action,  rose  to  her  feet  and  crossed  the 
room  to  the  sad  and  weeping  first  wife,  and  tenderly 
addressing  her,  said,  "  Mother,  I  have  now  a  home  of 
my  own,  and  if  you  will  only  consent  to  be  the  dis- 
carded one,  so  that  my  father  may  be  able  to  carry 
out  his  religious  convictions,  I  will  take  you  to  my 
heart  and  home,  and  I  will  be  a  loving  daughter  to 
you  all  the  days  of  your  life!"  Love  solved  the 
whole  difficulty.  The  old  woman  threw  her  arms 
round  the  neck  of  the  dear  girl  and  crossed  the  room 
with  her  to  sit  by  her  side,  and  the  matter  was  settled 
without  another  word  being  spoken.  We  all  sat  in 
tears  to  see  this  wonderful,  merciful,  and  even  beau- 
tiful solution  of  one  of  the  most  unique  and  painful 
difficulties  in  which  a  number  of  human  hearts  could 
be  entangled !  The  feelings  of  all  parties  were  saved 
and  honored,  God's  law  was  complied  with,  and  the 
whole  family  received  into  Christianity  and  its  holy 
relations.  I  made  inquiry  during  my  late  visit  as  to 
the  results,  and  was  particularly  pleased  to  find  at  the 
Bohilcund  camp-meeting  the  son  of  the  family  (one  of 
those  sad  and  anxious  children  who  had  there  to  pass 
through  this  terrible  ordeal)  was  in  attendance  as  a 
candidate  for  admission  to  the  office  of  local  preacher. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  407 

From  Budaon  we  went  on  to  attend  the  camp-meet- 
ing at  Chandausi.  Tliis  is  our  largest  camp-meeting 
in  India.  As  we  stood  at  the  station  with  our  com- 
pany, waiting  for  the  arrival  from  Bareilly,  it  was 
delightful  when  the  train  approached  to  hear  the  en- 
thusiastic singing  of  the  crowd  on  board — our  orphan 
girls  helping  so  grandly.  How  it  reminded  me  of 
such  scenes  at  home.  But  it  was  far  more  significant 
there!  It  contrasted  so  grandly  with  the  somber  mood 
and  joyless  aspect  generally  exhibited  by  the  people 
around,  who  have  nothing  in  their  religion  to  make 
them  happy.  They  would  stop  and  listen  with  sur- 
prise to  these  joyful  Christians,  then  pass  on,  wonder- 
ing what  all  this  meant.  But  they  will  learn  some 
day,  and  may  it  be  soon  ! 

The  camp  was  pitched  in  a  grove  owned  by  a 
friendly  Hindu.  Eight  hundred  native  Methodists 
wei'e  on  the  ground.  Instead  of  tents,  which  our 
poor  people  could  not  afford,  the  requisite  shelter  was 
provided  by  booths,  made  of  boughs  of  trees  and 
grass,  for  which  about  half  a  rupee  (twenty  cents)  rent 
was  charged.  Each  sheltered  a  family,  and  was  suffi- 
cient for  shade,  though  they  would  not  turn  rain  off 
if  it  occurred  at  that  time  of  the  year  (early  Decem- 
ber), which  it  does  not.  Tiie  scene  was  very  interest- 
ing, and  was  a  good  copy  of  the  "Feast  of  Taber- 
nacles "  in  other  days. 

The  first  two  days  were  given  to  District  Confer- 
ence work,  with  morning  and  evening  public  services, 


408  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

tliat  at  the  close  of  the  Conferences  glided  into  the 
camp-meeting  proper,  which  closed  on  Sunday  night 
following.  In  this  case  there  were  three  District 
Conferences  held  on  tlie  ground,  the  Rohilcund  Con- 
ference, the  Amroha  Conference,  and  the  Conference 
of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society ;  the 
presidents  of  each  being  Rev.  D.  W.  Thomas,  Rev. 
Zahur-ul-Huqq,  and  Miss  Fanny  Sparkes.  The  first  and 
List  were  held  in  large  tents,  but  Brother  Iluqq's  Con- 
ference (it  being  the  cool  season  of  the  year,  when  the 
natives  feel  the  cold  more  than  we  do)  preferred  to 
hold  theirs  in  the  open  air,  where  they  could  sit  in 
the  sun.  It  was  unique  to  see  them  seated  on  the 
ground,  native  fashion,  so  content,  with  only  the  canopy 
of  heaven  over  them,  going  thus  orderly  through  all 
the  forms  and  duties  of  a  Methodist  District  Con- 
ference. 

Every  person  in  the  service  of  either  Society,  no 
matter  how  humble  the  sphere  of  duty,  is  required 
to  attend  their  Conference,  to  represent  their  work, 
to  pass  examination  in  character,  appear  b0Ct)re  tlie 
committees  on  the  prescribed  studies  of  each  year,  as 
well  as  to  receive  the  religious  lielp  and  benefit  of  the 
camp-meeting  which  follows  the  Conferences.  The 
supervision  of  our  work  in  India  is  complete  to  the 
fullest  degree.  The  visitations  of  the  presiding  el- 
ders are  regular  and  effective,  and  thus  there  is  not  a 
dollar  expended  on  our  work  there  but  they  know 
w^here  it  is  and  what  it  is  doing  for  the  Church.     I 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  409 

went  round  from  one  Conference  to  another,  filled 
with  admiration  of  the  thorough  manner  in  which  the 
Discipline  is  administered  in  the  North  India  Confer- 
ence. Yes,  indeed,  these  men  "  mean  business,"  and 
that  business  is  "  well  done."  From  the  ordained  el- 
der of  the  legal  (Annual)  Conference,  stationed  within 
the  limits  of  these  District  Conferences,  down  to  the 
humble  colporteurs,  here  they  were  assembled  for 
the  transaction  and  oversight  of  the  Lord's  work  com- 
mitted to  tlieir  charge.  I  took  the  numbers  of  the 
membership  of  each  Conference  from  its  secretary 
and  found  that  there  were : 

In  the  Rohilciind  Conference 125  members. 

In  the  Amroha  Conference 44  " 

In  the  Ladies'  Conference 95  " 

A  total  working  force  of 264  persons. 

And  this  is  over  and  above  the  male  and  female  Dis- 
trict Conferences  of  Kumaon  and  Oude.  In  fact,  there 
are  seven  District  Conferences  within  the  bounds  of 
the  North  India  Conference,  four  of  the  parent  Board 
and  three  of  the  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Soci- 
ety. They  meet  at  the  same  time  and  place,  and  co- 
operate together  most  kindly  and  harmoniously,  act- 
ing freely  and  independently  for  what  concerns  their 
own  specific  work,  and  yet  in  unity  and  mutual  assist- 
ance for  all  that  concerns  the  common  interests  of  the 
Church  within  their  bounds. 

The  missionary  ladies  have  a  regular  Manual^  con- 


410  Feom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

taining  their  Constitution,  Enles  of  Order,  By-laws, 
and  Specified  Courses  of  Study  for  four  years,  obliga- 
tory upon  their  lady  missionaries  and  assistants,  their 
Bible  women,  school  teachers,  and  zenana  visitors. 
Their  rules  are  faithfully  applied  at  these  Conferences, 
and  one  of  them  is  strict  enough  to  lay  down  the  law, 
that  any  lady  missionary  unable  or  unwilling  to  ac- 
quire the  language  and  pass  the  examinations  in  the 
vernacular  course  of  study  shall  be  reported  to  the 
executive  committee  at  home,  so  that  she  may  be  re- 
called. The  result  is  a  general  efficiency,  that  makes 
them  worthy  to  stand  by  the  side  of  the  missionaries 
of  the  parent  Board.  There  is  thus  a  proper  founda- 
tion for  a  real  respect  and  confidence,  which  is  very 
pleasant;  and  this,  joined  with  the  loyalty  of  the 
lady  missionaries  to  the  Church  and  its  constituted 
authorities  in  India,  enables  them  to  toil  together  in 
the  same  stations  without  friction,  and  with  sincere 
appreciation  and  mutual  help.  The  Annual  Confer- 
ence draws  all  together  under  its  kind  and  efficient 
supervision. 

I  was  delayed  somewhat  in  reaching  the  camp- 
ground, and  found  on  arrival  that  the  general  service, 
where  all  three  Conferences  had  met  together  to  im- 
plore the  blessing  of  the  Lord  upon  their  work,  had 
commenced.  The  hymn  was  over  and  they  had  gone 
to  prayer.  Hurrying  across  to  the  big  tent,  I  heard 
the  voice  that  was  leading  the  devotions  within.  I 
did  not  need  to  ask  those  with  me  whose  voice  that 


From  Boston  to  Baeetlly.  411 

was !  It  was  eigliteen  years  since  I  heard  it  last,  but 
liow  quickly  I  knew  it,  and  how  my  heart  throbbed 
to  hear  it!  It  was  Brother  e/b^^ /  Quietly  entering 
behind  the  pulpit,  I  remained  unobserved  by  any  one 
till  he  had  ended  and  they  rose  up  again.  I  suppose, 
according  to  the  proprieties,  I  ought  to  have  waited 
till  the  service  had  concluded  before  hailing  and  sa- 
luting my  dear  old  helper.  But  I  could  not  wait. 
Before  the  presiding  elder  could  give  out  the  next 
hymn  I  had  rushed  across  the  tent  to  where  Joel 
was  sitting,  and,  laying  my  hands  on  his  shoulders,  I 
looked  into  those  sightless  eyes  and  kissed  his  fore- 
head, exclaiming,  ''  Dear  Joel !  "  I  felt  his  whole 
frame  thrill  with  joj'.  He  was  on  his  feet  in  a  mo- 
ment, and  we  were  clasped  in  each  other's  arms,  our 
hearts  beating  responsively  each  to  the  other.  Tlie 
elder  had  to  wait;  nobody  could  sing;  every  one 
was  moved,  and  the  native  preachers  were  in  tears 
around  us.  Perhaps  they  will  never  forget  it.  There 
is  nothing  like  love.  It  wins  and  conquers  hearts 
anywhere  on  earth.  That  scene  did  those  native 
brethren  much  good.  It  satisfied  them  that  fidelity 
to  the  Church  and  to  God  was  the  true  way  to  be  ap- 
preciated and  loved.  I  sat  during  the  sermon  with 
my  arm  round  this  "  true  yoke-fellow,"  and  my  mind 
was  busy  with  the  past,  when  he  stood  so  faithfully 
by  my  side  amid  the  toil  and  trials  of  our  work  when 
we  were  so  few  and  feeble.  The  only  shade  over  this 
joyful  meeting  was  his  inability  to  see  me.     He  felt 


412  Feom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

if  lie  could  only  look  into  my  face,  even  for  one  min- 
ute, he  would  be  satisfied.  Poor  fellow !  how  I  sym- 
pathized wdth  his  yearning  heart  in  the  desire  for 
what  could  not  be  now,  but  will  surely  be  hereafter. 

When  the  service  was  over  the  rest  of  the  brethren 
and  sisters  crowded  round  and  we  had  a  glad  time 
together.  They  looked  at  us  with  astonishment  and 
delight,  as  they  realized  how  far  we  had  come  to  see 
them  all  once  more.  Of  course  our  pleasure  was 
greatly  heightened  by  meeting  Joel's  daughters.  The 
eldest,  who  is  married,  is  almost  as  beautiful  as  her 
dear  mother,  the  gentle  Emma,  wliom  my  good 
wife  regarded  as  one  of  the  loveliest  women  she  had 
seen  in  India.  And  now,  here  were  the  little  babies 
of  twenty  years  ago,  grown  up  into  such  sweet 
maidenhood.  The  eldest  is  well  married  to  one  who 
is  wortliy  of  her,  and  whose  means  enable  her  to  be 
generous  to  the  Lord's  work.  She  does  a  good 
deal  of  service  for  tlie  Ladies'  Society  in  zenana 
visitation,  as  a  voluntary  agent  and  without  accepting 
any  earthly  recompense.  She  must  be  very  efficient, 
being  so  well  educated  and  so  lady-like  and  Christian 
in  lier  spirit. 

The  business  of  all  these  District  Conferences  is, 
of  course,  carried  on  in  the  Ilindustanee  language. 
The  Hindus  are  a  courteous  race,  and  this  was  ex- 
hibited in  their  Conference  discussions  and  the  respect 
they  showed  for  the  rules  which  governed  their  as- 
semblies.    It  was  pleasing  to  hear  so  frequently  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  413 

words,  as  tliej  addressed  the  chair,  "  Mir  mugles 
sahib ! "  (Mr.  president.)  The  order  kept  was  ex- 
cellent and  their  conduct  gentlemanly  toward  each 
other. 

Twelve  new  local  preachers  were  accepted  from 
the  ranks  of  the  exhorters;  but,  after  a  yerj  strict 
scrutiny  in  each  case,  one  or  two,  who  had  come  up 
for  admission,  were  rejected  on  account  of  not  hav- 
ing passed  good  examinations,  and  were  sent  back  to 
their  books  for  one  year  more.  Another  was  rejected 
for  having  whipped  his  wife.  The  poor  fellow,  with 
apparent  sincerity,  pleaded,  in  extenuation,  that  it 
was  the  custom  of  his  country,  and  that  he  supposed 
wives  "  sometimes  needed  it  to  keep  them  good ! " 
When  confronted  with  our  Christian  usages  not  to 
whip  our  wives,  he  said  that  our  women  were  "  of  a 
different  race,  and  perhaps  did  not  need  it ! "  But 
it  was  all  in  vain,  he  was  rejected.  The  American 
members  of  the  Conference  did  not  require  to  take 
part  in  the  discussion ;  it  was  left  entirely  in  the 
hands  of  the  native  brethren,  who  are  very  decided 
not  to  tolerate  this  "  Hindu  custom  "  in  their  Church 
members,  much  less  their  official  brethren.  Some- 
times women,  who  are  not  aware  of  our  *'  Christian 
customs,"  are  amazed  when  they  learn  that  we  never 
whip  our  wives.  Dr.  Scott  told  me  of  a  case  that 
occurred  under  his  own  eyes  some  years  ago.  He 
had  reason  to  suppose  that  one  of  his  theological 
students    occasionally    resorted    to  this  method   of 


414  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

"  keeping  Lis  wife  good ; "  so  lie  quietly  awaited  a 
chance  to  cure  the  evil.  One  day  he  heard  some 
commotion  on  the  other  side  of  the  wall  of  the  in- 
closure  which  sounded  suspicious,  and,  hastening 
round,  came  upon  the  scene  as  the  husband  was  lay- 
ing the  switch  on  the  wife's  back,  and  she  crying 
bitterly.  Hastily  snatching  a  broom,  which  stood 
convenient,  he  made  a  dash  at  the  man  to  stop  him, 
when,  lo !  the  wife  rushed  to  her  husband's  rescue, 
and  in  his  defense  insisted  that,  being  his  wife,  he 
had  a  right  to  whip  her  if  he  chose  to  do  so,  and  that 
she  ought  to  have  taken  it  more  patiently !  But 
these  things  are  ending,  and  a  native  Conference  re- 
fuses to  excuse  it,  and  will  discipline  any  man  that  will 
raise  his  hand  to  a  woman.  The  better  day  has  come, 
and  the  law  of  Christ  has  begun  to  abrogate  the  In- 
stitutes of  Memi^  and  vindicate  long-suifering  women 
from  the  treatment  which  heathenism  has  thus  far  in- 
flicted upon  them.     TJiey  will  ere  long  learn, 

"  What  a  friend  we  liave  in  Jesus  1  " 

It  was  satisfactory  to  see  how  narrow  the  door  was 
into  our  ministry  and  how  carefully  these  native 
brethren  were  guarding  it. 

In  my  address  to  these  native  preachers  I  urged 
upon  them  the  highest  motives  of  the  ministry  which 
they  had  received,  and  also  the  duty  of  developing 
the  liberality  of  their  people,  so  as  to  lighten  the 
load  on  the  funds  of  our  society,  and  hasten  the  hour 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  415 

when  our  means  should  be  set  free  to  evangelize 
those  whom  we  had  not  yet  reached.  They  do  recog- 
nize this  duty,  and,  I  believe,  are  doing  about  all  that 
can  be  fairly  expected  of  them  in  this  comparatively 
early  stage  of  our  work,  and  also  in  view  of  the  very 
humble  ability  of  most  of  our  people,  who,  in  becom- 
ing Christians,  liave  lost  their  all,  and  have  had  to 
emerge  from  a  poverty  that  the  Church  at  home 
cannot  imagine.  Let  them  have  five  or  ten  years 
more  time  to  work  up,  and  we  can  then  fairly  judge 
of  their  disposition  to  help  themselves.  But  even 
now,  the  statistics  which  are  to  follow  in  these  pages 
will  show  that  our  people  are  doing  all  that  they  are 
able  for  self-su})poi't ;  perhaps  as  well  as  the  average 
of  our  members  at  home,  if  the  respective  ahility  of 
the  parties  is  fairly  estimated.  But  the  statistics  will 
enable  my  readers  to  judge  for  themselves  upon  this 
question. 

These  camp-meetings  are  of  great  use.  To  our 
own  people  it  is  no  ordinary  inspiration  to  have  them 
come  together  yearly  from  localities  where  they  are 
few  and  generally  persecuted,  and  often  realizing 
how  heavy  is  the  cross  which  they  carry  in  having 
forsaken  heathenism  and  embraced  our  religion. 
Then  to  find  themselves  united  for  a  week  with  a 
body  of  fellow-disciples  six  or  eight  hundred  strong, 
and  enter  on  the  enjoyment  of  this  hixury  of  the 
means  of  grace,  day  after  day,  putting  strength  and 
courage  into  their  hearts  all  the  tjme;  they  return 


416  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

to  their  homes  better  prepared  than  ever  for  the 
duties  and  trials  of  their  Christian  life,  and  cheered 
bj  the  reflection  that  they  belong  to  a  body  of  con- 
siderable importance,  whose  members  are  growing  all 
the  time  in  numbers,  intelligence,  and  power  for 
good.  Here,  also,  the  heathen  have  a  grand  chance 
to  see  and  understand  Christianity.  Hundreds  of 
them,  w^ho  are  too  timid  to  enter  a  place  of  wor- 
ship, will  come  to  the  Christian  mela,  as  they  call 
it,  and  listen  to  the  singing  and  preaching  with  much 
interest.  They,  too,  see  that  this  Christianity  is 
growing  into  a  power,  and  they  are  led  to  respect  it, 
and  become  more  conciliatory  toward  those  of  its 
members  who  reside  near  them.  The  steady  growth 
of  this  work  of  God  is  indicated  in  a  remark  made 
by  Dr.  Scott,  in  the  Rohilcund  Conference  tent.  He 
said :  "  Some  years  ago  I  built  this  tent  to  hold  our 
camp-meeting ;  now  you  see  it  wont  contain  even  the 
members  of  the  District  Conference."  They  have 
most  gracious  reasons  for  obeying  the  Divine  com- 
mand, "  Enlarge  the  place  of  thy  tent,  and  let  them 
stretch  forth  the  curtains  of  thine  habitations."  A 
remark  made  by  one  of  the  native  brethren  in  the  ac- 
count of  his  work,  shows,  also,  the  growth  of  toleration 
toward  our  religion  which  the  past  twenty-five  years 
have  developed.  The  Nawab  of  Eampore  (a  native 
State  in  the  center  of  Eohilcund)  is  a  Mohammedan 
sovereign.  We  have  long  desired  to  get  access  to 
his  territory,  and  have  at  last  succeeded.     But  his 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  417 

bigoted  officials  brought  the  fact  to  his  notice  lately, 
mentioning  the  name  of  a  family  who  liad  become 
Christians  in  one  of  his  towns,  and  where  we  liave 
begun  to  hold  service.  Of  course  the  expectation 
was  that  he  would  give  them  leave  to  drive  them 
out.  But  no;  to  their  amazement,  his  highness  re- 
plied, '^  Why,  I  tolerate  Hindus  in  my  territory,  and 
why  should  I  not  tolerate  Christians,  also  ?  Let  them 
alone."  I  know  this  nawab  personally.  It  was  his 
worthy  father  who  (as  I  have  related  in  the  Land  of 
the  Veda),  when  we  were  so  closely  beset  at  Nynee 
Tal,  gave  us  that  "  aid  and  comfort "  then  so  valuable 
to  us.  I  hope  my  readers  will  pray  for  the  worthy 
and  tolerant  son  who  now  occupies  the  throne  of 
Eampore. 

Andrias,  a  member  of  this  Conference,  in  his  zeal 
and  desire  to  relieve  the  missionary  treasury  of  his 
support,  gave  up  his  humble  salary,  of  six  dollars  per 
month,  on  this  occasion,  asking  merely  that  a  small 
portion  of  it  be  paid  to  sustain  his  wife  and  family, 
and  he  would  throw  himself  entirely  upon  his  Chu- 
mar  people  for  support.  They  had  even  requested 
him  to  do  so.  He  had  been  their  guru  (religious 
guide  and  teacher)  in  their  heathen  state,  and  they 
were  willing  to  sustain  him  now  as  their  Christian 
ffuru.  The  good  old  man  is  w^orking  his  circuit  on 
this  plan,  and  so  far  is  doing  well. 

I  ought  to  mention  that  the  head  of  that  family  in 

Ilam]->ore,  mentioned  above,  who  has  become  a  Chris- 
27 


418  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

tian,  shows  his  faith  by  his  works,  and  on  this  ques- 
tion of  support  for  the  Christian  cause  (which  all  our 
preachers  instruct  their  people  to  observe  to  the  ex- 
tent of  their  ability)  he  thus  states  his  own  sense  of 
duty :  "  In  my  heathen  condition  I  dedicated  the 
product  of  live  begas  of  land  (nearly  an  acre)  to  the 
Brahmins ;  but  now  I  plow  and  sow  it  for  Jesus,  and 
give  the  product  to  his  cause." 

I  had  once  more  the  great  pleasure  of  hearing  dear 
Joel  preach  one  of  his  own  eloquent,  spiritual  sermons 
from  the  text :  "  Father,  I  will  that  they  also,  whom 
thou  hast  given  me,  be  with  me  where  I  am;  that 
they  may  behold  my  gloiy."  It  was  affecting  to  look 
upon  his  expressive  face,  with  those  sightless  eyes,  as 
he  dwelt  on  the  fact  that  they  shall  "behold''  that 
"glory" — not  one  of  them  being  destitute  of  the 
power  to  see  it. 

The  sublime  and  the  ridiculous  sometimes  come 
very  close  and  awkwardly  together.  One  such  inci- 
dent may  be  worth  relating  here,  not  for  the  smile 
which  it  will  create,  but  for  the  better  purpose  it  will 
answer  to  illustrate,  in  a  simple  way,  how^  our  religion 
cultures  its  adherents  and  confers  on  them  a  spiritual 
discernment  W'hich  marks  the  diiference  between  them 
and  people  of  the  world.  Our  camp  was  lighted 
at  night  by  little  "  butties,"  small  earthen  cups  with 
oil  and  cotton  wncks,  fastened  upon  the  trees.  To 
prepare  these  and  take  care  of  them  is  one  man's 
work,      He  is  called  a  chirag  wallah.     This  wallah 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  419 

was  only  a  nominal  Christian,  and  at  the  time  was 
evidently  thinking  more  of  his  *' butties"  than  of 
that  which  they  feebly  typified,  w^hen  the  presiding 
elder  was  earnestly  exhorting  the  audience  to  take 
due  care  to  have  "  their  lights  trimmed  and  burning," 
so  that  they  should  shine  full  and  clear  before  men, 
and  not  go  out  and  leave  them  in  darkness.  At  this 
point  the  poor  wallah,  who  imagined  the  exhortation 
was  clearly  aimed  at  him  and  his  failure  of  duty,  un- 
able to  endure  it  longer,  rose  to  his  feet  and  sud- 
denly broke  in  on  the  elder's  address,  and  most 
energetically  declared :  "  Why,  sahib,  it  is  not  my 
fault  that  they  burn  badly  ;  I  prepare  them  carefully 
and  watch  them  as  well  as  I  can,  but  the  thieving 
crows  come  round  and  pull  out  the  wricks  and  get  at 
the  oil  in  the  butties — what  more  can  I  do  ?  "  At 
home  this  ridiculous  blunder  wouTd  have  broken  up 
the  solemnity  of  any  camp-meeting  for  a  good  while. 
But  here,  though  there  was  a  momentary  merriment 
at  .the  stupidity  of  the  wallah,  it  was  but  momentary, 
and  the  feeling  awakened  was  commiseration  for  the 
poor  fellow's  want  of  "  spiritual  discernment "  to  un- 
derstand the  word  of  God  and  the  elder's  use  of  it. 
In  three  minutes  all  was  serene  again,  and  the  elder's 
exhortation  lost  none  of  its  effect  by  the  interruption. 
The  numbers  forward  for  prayers,  and  of  those  wlio 
professed  to  have  been  saved,  were  I  think  in  advance 
of  the  Lucknow  meeting,  and  the  power  of  God 
seemed  to  me  to  be  more  manifest.     Tlie  love-feast 


420  Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

was  delightful,  from  two  to  five  persons  would  be  on 
the  floor  at  a  time  waiting  for  a  chance  to  speak.  A 
singular  fact  occurred  during  this  service.  A  Mo- 
liammedan  gentleman,  who  had  come  into  the  assem- 
bly out  of  mere  curiosity,  was  so  affected  by  the  testi- 
monies which  he  heard  that  lie  rose  and  asked  the 
privilege  of  saying  a  word.  Permission  was  given, 
and  he  then  remarked,  that  he  "  felt  the  spirit  of  the 
place,  and  he  wished  to  confess  that  he  had  been 
much  helped  in  his  religious  feelings."  This  was  the 
way  he  put  it.  It  seemed  a  true  illustration  of  what 
St.  Paul^  meant,  in  1  Cor.  xiv,  25,  where  he  speaks  of 
the  stranger  in  a  Christian  assembly  confessing  to  the 
power  of  God  being  present  to  save.  The  sacrament 
of  the  Lord's  Supper  was  a  beautiful  and  solemn 
service— about  four  hundred  and  fifty  communed — 
nearly  half  the  number  being  women,  and  they  were 
especially  devout. 

The  closing  scene  of  that  Chandausi  camp-meeting 
was  the  most  enthusiastic  hour  which  we  witnessed 
during  our  visit  in  India.  It  occurred  at  the  close  of 
the  blessed  Sabbath,  with  all  its  privileges  of  relig- 
ious services  from  early  morning  till  nearly  ten 
o'clock  that  night.  Souls  had  been  saved,  believers 
sanctified,  and  every  one  more  or  less  blessed,  and 
the  services  had  risen  in  spirituality  and  power  to 
the  end.  But  now  the  hour  of  closing  had  come, 
and  they  were  to  leave  the  glad  scene  early  next 
morning. 


From  Boston  to  Bareillt.  421 

Before  describing  this  termination,  to  enable  the 
reader  to  appreciate  it.  let  me  refer  to  the  usage  of 
these  people  in  their  heathen  state  a  few  years  ago. 
Hindus  make  it  a  practice  yearly  to  attend  one  of 
their  great  melas  on  the  banks  of  the  Ganges.  One 
might  call  their  mela  an  immense  Hindu  camp-meet- 
ing, where  for  nearly  a  week  several  hundred  thou- 
sand people  encamp  on  the  banks  of  the  "holy  river" 
at  these  various  shrineft,  and  go  through  austerities, 
ablutions,  and  services  in  which  they  seek  for  purifi- 
cation from  the  sihs  of  the  past  year.  These  services 
are  consummated  by  ah  immersion  of  the  whole  per- 
son beneath  the  water  of  this  river,  preceded  by  a 
cry  in  which,  at  a  given  signal,  the  whole  crowd 
unite.  Tiiat  yell  (as  it  may  well  be  called)  is  one  of 
the  most  awful  sounds  to  which  a  Christian  ear  can 
listen !  The  words  are,  as  they  rush  forward  into  the 
river,  "  Gunga  mata  ki  jai,  jai,  jai !  "  The  meaning 
is,  "Victory,  victory,  victory  to  the  holy  Ganges!" 
When  our  people  "  walked  according  to  the  course  of 
this  world "  and  its  idolatry,  this  was  their  cry  and 
their  confidence.  In  this  rested  their  highest  hopes 
of  salvation.  But  now,  "  in  Christ  Jesus,"  how  sig- 
nificant is  the  change  which  they  have  made  !  Let 
me  describe  it. 

The  presiding  elder.  Brother  Thomas,  at  ten 
o'clock  that  Sunday  night,  reminded  them  one  thing 
more,  according  to  their  usage,  remained  to  be  done 
to  consummate  and  close  their  camp-meeting.     They 


422  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

understood  it,  and  the  preparations  had  been  made 
in  tlie  tall  forest  outside  the  line  of  tents,  where  fires 
blazed  to  give  light.  Commencing  at  the  stand,  we 
filed  out  singing,  and  soon  formed  a  complete  circle 
of  eight  hundred  people  beneath  the  tall  trees.  Here 
the  preachers  and  ourselves  stood  in  line,  and  the  en- 
tire eight  hundred  slowly  marched  again  till  they 
passed  and  shook  hands  with  each  of  us,  while  the 
singing,  the  shouts  of  joy,  and  flowing  tears  all  at- 
tested the  gladness  of  these  redeemed  people !  The 
circle  was  reformed,  and  the  missionaries  and  our- 
selves stood  in  the  center,  and  then  they  sang  over 
and  over  again,  as  though  they  did  not  know  when 
to  stop, 

"  I'm  the  child  of  a  King." 
*'  The  sweet  by  and  by,"  etc. 

A  pause  was  now  called,  and  they  then  requested  I 
should  once  more  address  them,  perhaps  for  the  last 
time.  This  I  did,  on  the  sacred  freedom  which  our 
Church  secured  to  them  in  these  extraordinary  means 
of  grace  for  their  enjoyment  and  help,  as  well  as  on 
the  prospect  which  they  had,  if  faithful,  of  joining  in 
the  glad  redemption  song,  "  clothed  in  white  robes 
and  palms  in  their  hands,"  where  we  hoped  to  meet 
them,  though  we  could  not  expect  to  see  them  again 
on  earth.  The  elder  then  said,  "Now,  brethren  and 
sisters,  I  want  you,  before  our  final  shout  of  victory 
is  given,  to  unite  in  a  loving  Christian  acclamation  for 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Butler,  the  founders  of  our  mission ; " 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  423 

and  he  led  tlie  way,  and  the  forest  rang  with  the  ap- 
plause of  those  grateful  hearts !  He  here  paused,  as 
if  realizing  what  all  this  implied,  and  called  out  again, 
"  Has  not  this  been  a  happy  occasion  ?  Are  we  not 
all  very  happy  ?  "  And  there  came,  in  response,  the 
mighty  united  cry,  "  Yes,  yes,  yes ! "  This  brought 
us  to  the  final  act,  and  to  the  recognition  of  the  honor 
due  that  "Name  w^hich  is  above  every  name,"  and 
which  they  now  love  to  celebrate  as  the  closing  utter- 
ance of  their  camp-meeting.  The  elder  asked,  "  Are 
you  ready  ? "  They  understood,  and  seemed  to  stand 
firmer  in  their  place,  and  each  hand  prepared  to  rise 
toward  heaven,  as  they  answered  back,  "Yes ;  ready." 
Up  w^ent  the  elder's  hand,  and  theirs  with  his,  and, 
like  the  voice  of  one  man,  the  eight  hundred  shouted 
out :  "  Isa  Masili  ki  jai,  jai,  jai !"  which  is,  "  Victory, 
victory,  victory  to  Jesus  Christ!"  Tlie  effect  was 
thrilling,  all  the  more  so  by  the  contrast  which  it  sug- 
gested of  their  utterances  "in  the  former  days  of 
their  ignorance."  I  looked  up  into  the  clear,  calm 
heavens,  toward  w^hich  their  weaving  hands  were 
pointing  so  triumphantly,  and  into  which  their  glad 
acclaim  was  entering, 

"  And  the  happy  stars  above  them  seemed 
To  brighten  as  they  passed  ! " 

I  felt  sure  that  He  who  made  those  stars  was  looking 
down  in  love  upon  the  adoring  audience,  and  that 
their  ascription  of  "victory"  to  him  was  accepted. 


42-i  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

No  doubt  the  blessed  ones  above  sjiripatlilzed  with 
that  scene,  where  these  redeemed  idolaters  were  do- 
ing their  best  to  unite  with  the  anthem  of  the  skies 
in  giving  glorj  to  their  common  Lord.  Early  next 
morning  we  took  our  departure,  and  the  glad  crowd 
entered  the  train,  still  singing.  Passing  the  engine  I 
saw  that  the  engineer  w^as  a  native,  and  that  he  was 
looking  down  most  benignly  upon  the  people  in  their 
joy.  It  was  to  me  a  great  surprise,  for  hitherto  I 
understood  that  even  the  natives  would  demur  to  ride 
in  a  train  not  controlled  by  a  w^hite  man,  deeming 
their  ow^n  race  inadequate  to  drive  it.  But  here  was 
a  native  engineer,  and  no  objection.  Yes ;  on  inquiry 
they  told  me  he  was  a  Christian  and  a  member  of  our 
Church,  who,  in  the  good  use  of  the  education  we  had 
given  him,  and  his  sobriety  and  intelligence,  had  risen 
from  the  rank  of  a  stoker  to  be-  an  engineer,  and  a 
good  one,  too,  fully  trusted  by  the  railroad  company, 
w^ho  had  elected  him  to  the  position  on  the  failure, 
through  intemperance,  of  his  English  predecessor. 
The  train  rolled  out  of  the  station,  the  happy  people 
on  board  "singing  lustily  and  with  good  courage," 
while  now  and  again  they  would  clap  their  hands  in 
sympathy  with  their  singing  (another  little  peculiarity 
of  theirs,  and  I  think  a  native  habit  of  expressing  joy). 
The  Christians  claim  it  as  a  biblical  right,  for  *'  the 
sweet  singer  of  Israel"  teaches  them  so:  "O  clap 
your  hands,  all  ye  people ! "  Psa.  5^1  vii,  1.  And  so 
Isaiah  (chap.  Iv,  12)  calls  upon  "  the  trees  of  the  field  " 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  425 

to  do  the  same  in  their  exultation.  They  have  Ileav^- 
en's  warrant  for  tlieir  privilege  as  well  as  for  their 
"  shouts  "  of  joy.  Thank  God,  that  such  an  hour  has 
come,  when  these  external  manifestations  are  heard  in 
India,  in  the  significance  which  makes  them  accept- 
able to  God,  being  the  outward  and  audible  expres- 
sions of  the  inward,  unearthly  peace  and  joy  which 
his  Gospel  has  implanted  in  their  hearts ! 


426  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareillt. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  Come,  then,  thou  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords  I 

Sun-like,  from  out  thy  royal  chambers  come ! 

The  robes  of  thine  imperial  majesty 

Haste  to  put  on ;  and  in  thy  right  hand  grasp 

That  scepter  of  unlimited  dominion 

Which  thine  Almighty  Father  hath  bestowed  ; 

Even  so,  Lord  Jesus,  come !  yea,  quickly  come ! 

For  'tis  the  voice  of  thine  own  Bride  that  calls, 

And  all  creation  sighs  to  be  renewed.*' 

— In  imitation  of  Milton^  by  Dr.  Mitchell. 

The  IsTortli  India  Annual  Conference  was  to  com- 
mence its  sessions  in  tlie  city  of  Cawnpore  on  the  9tli 
of  January,  and  we  now  hastened  forward  to  be  in 
time  to  enjoy  the  great  opportunity  of  meeting  the 
Conference  which  I  saw  organized  nineteen  years 
before,  under  the  presidency  of  Bishop  Thomson.  I 
was  now  in  good  measure  prepared  for  the  enlarge- 
ment and  great  increase  of  power  which  I  was  to  iind 
there.  But,  what  most  of  all  impressed  me  with 
surprise  and  delight,  as  intimating  the  future,  was 
the  fact  that  the  native  members  of  this  legal  Con- 
ference are  already  in  the  majority.  The  American 
members  are  now  outnumbered.  Several  of  those 
who  make  up  this  native  majority  were  the  orphan 
boys  of  an  earlier  day;   and  here  they  sat,  as  the 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  427 

peers,  ecclesiastically,  of  the  missionaries  who  so  ably 
represent  the  home  Church. 

Lest  any  one  might  suppose  that  I,  as  the  founder 
of  this  work,  was  influenced  in  describing  this  Con- 
ference and  the  results  of  its  labor,  I  here  prefer  to 
avail  myself  of  the  words  of  another  and  competent 
witness.  Rev.  Dr.  Thoburn,  who,  as  delegate  from 
the  South  India  Conference,  visited  tliis  ^orth  India 
Conference  at  its  recent  session  at  Bareilly  (such 
occasions  being  in  all  essential  respects  identical). 
The  doctor  tlius  writes  of  what  he  found : 

*'The  jpersonnel  of  the  Conference  has  greatly 
changed  since  its  first  organization,  in  December, 
1864.  There  were  then  eighteen  American  and 
European  members,  and  four  native  preachers  were 
admitted  on  trial.  At  the  recent  session  in  Bareillv 
twenty-one  American  and  twenty-five  native  mem- 
bers were  present.  The  foreigners  were  in  a  minor- 
ity, and  all  parties  were  well  aware  that  the  minority 
must  grow  relatively  smaller  wath  every  succeeding 
year.  Fifteen  years  ago  it  was  not  uncommon  to 
hear  predictions  of  troublous  times  if  ever  the  native 
element  should  gain  the  numerical  ascendency  in  the 
Conference ;  but  now  that  that  contingency  has  be- 
come an  accomplished  fact,  no  evil  result  of  any  kind 
is  apparent.  On  the  other  hand,  all  seemed  to  re- 
joice in  the  result,  and  instead  of  anticipating  trouble 
in  the  future,  native  members  of  Conference  are 
cordially  admitted  on  terms  of  perfect  equality  with 


428  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

their  American  brethren,  and  no  misgiving  is  either 
expressed  or  felt.  These  American  brethren  practi- 
cally place  their  characters  in  the  hands  of  their  na- 
tive brethren.  Each  missionary  is  amenable  to  the 
Annual  Conference  for  his  moral  and  ecclesiastical 
standing,  and,  if  put  on  trial,  can  be  expelled  by  a  ma- 
jority vote.  In  this  Conference  the  natives  are  in  the 
majority ;  but  no  American  member  has  the  slightest 
unwillingness  to  trust  his  character  to  their  keeping. 

"  Another  marked  and  more  unexpected  change  in 
the  jpersonnel  of  the  Conference  is  seen  in  the  pres- 
ence of  seventeen  lady  missionaries.  Tliese,  added 
to  fourteen  wives  of  missionaries  who  were  present, 
gave  the  ladies  a  large  numerical  preponderance,  and 
although  these  good  sisters  are  not  reckoned  as  mem- 
bers of  Conference,  yet  they  hold  an  annual  meeting 
of  their  own,  and  transact  a  large  amount  of  impor- 
tant business  pertaining  to  their  work.  The  develop- 
ment of  this  large  and  growing  work  is  one  of  the 
most  remarkable  features  of  recent  missionary  prog- 
ress. It  has  been  manifestly  a  providential  move- 
ment from  the  first,  and  we  think  the  Christian  man 
who  does  not  see  the  hand  of  God  in  it  must  be  blind 
indeed.  These  ladies  are  engaged  in  many  kinds  of 
active  work,  and  every  year  their  sphere  of  useful- 
ness grows  wider  and  more  important. 

"  The  devotional  meetings  of  the  ]S"orth  India  Con- 
ference are  always  seasons  of  interest,  and  have,  on 
some  occasions,  been  scenes  of  remarkable  blessing. 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  429 

It  is  a  good  custom,  and  one  worthy  of  imitation 
elsewhere,  for  the  brethren  and  sisters  to  gather  to- 
gether after  tea  in  the  evening  and  spend  an  hour  or 
two  in  prayer  and  conversation.  These  social  meet- 
ings were  greatly  blessed  at  the  recent  session,  and 
will  long  be  gratefully  remembered  by  those  who 
were  fortunate  enough  to  be  present.  They  were 
not  only  seasons  of  great  blessing,  but  the  gatherings 
partook  largely  of  the  character  of  a  large  family  re- 
union, and  were  thus  doubly  blessed  to  the  company 
which  nightly  assembled. 

"  The  work  of  the  Conference  was  reported  as  in  a 
very  prosperous  condition.  Steadily,  and  somewhat 
rapidly,  the  native  Christians  of  Oude,  Rohilcund, 
Kumaon,  and  Gurhwal,  are  increasing  in  numbers, 
and  every  year  the  momentum  of  the  gathering  mass 
is  increasing.  The  whole  number  of  baptized  com- 
municants under  the  care  of  the  Conference  is  4,573, 
a  number  which  indicates  a  Christian  population  of, 
perhaps,  ten  tiiousand  or  more.  The  whole  number 
of  pupils  in  the  schools  of  various  grades  is  12,119. 
In  the  Sunday-schools  the  extraordinary  number  of 
18,0G9  was  reported,  of  whom  4,364  were  Christians, 
and  13,705  non-Christians.  The  steady  growth  of 
the  Sunday-school  work  under  the  care  of  this  Con- 
ference is  one  of  the  most  striking  features  of  recent 
missionary  work  in  India.  The  number  of  adult 
baptisms  reported  for  1884  was  347.  The  amount 
contributed     by    the    native    churches    toward   the 


430  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

support  of  tlieir  own  pastors  during  the  year  was 
1,832  rupees.  Six  Hindustani  preachers  were  admit- 
ted on  trial. 

"  Bishop  Hurst  was  gladly  welcomed  by  tlie  breth- 
ren, and  his  administration  highly  appreciated.  The 
missionary  circle  of  Bareilly,  as  well  as  other  Chris- 
tian friends,  gave  the  Conference  a  warm  welcome, 
and  the  strangers  who  were  present  were  greatly 
pleased  and  delighted  with  their  visit  to  Bareilly, 
and  especially  with  their  stay  in  the  charming  little 
mission  settlement.  The  theological  school  build- 
ing, the  church,  the  orphanage,  the  hospital,  the  mis- 
sion houses,  and  the  school  and  church  in  the  city, 
all  combine  to  make  a  group  of  buildings  which,  on 
the  Chinese  coast,  would  be  called  a  settlement,  or 
*  concession.'  Those  who  knew  Bareilly  in  earlier 
days,  and  remembered  how  the  first  foundations  were 
laid,  looked  with  grateful,  wonder  at  the  changed 
scenes  around  them.  The  resident  missionaries  re- 
ported a  hopeful  state  of  things  in  the  city  and  dis- 
trict. The  cause  of  Christ  is  steadily  marching  for- 
ward, and  all  manner  of  barriers  are  giving  way. 
May  God  still  more  abundantly  bless  the  labors  of 
his  people  in  Bareilly, "and  in  all  the  region  in  which 
those  North  Indian  brethren  labor,  and  multiply 
them  and  their  people  a  hundred-fold ! " 

These  Annual  Conferences  liold  their  sessions  alter- 
nately at  Moradabad,  Bareilly,  Shahjahanpore,  Luck- 
now,  and  Cawnpore.     Our  brethren  of  other  Churches 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  431 

— Congregational,  Baptist,  and  Presbyterian — find 
them  to  be  occasions  of  sncli  interest  .and  spiritual 
profit  that  they  come  from  considerable  distances  to 
attend  them.  In  studying  our  methods  and  progress, 
we  are  glad  to  know  that  they  find  suggestions  which 
are  useful  to  them  when  they  return  to  their  own 
fields  of  labor.  My  readers  will  remember  that  in 
addition  to  this  body  of  ministers  forming  the  North 
India  Annual  Conference,  we  have  about  one  hundred 
other  native  preachers,  who  being  only  "  local " — 
though  fully  employed  in  supplying  the  work — are 
not  members  of  this  legal  Conference,  but  yet  hold 
a  membership  in  the  four  District  Conferences  al- 
ready described,  and  are  amenable  to  the  disciplinary 
arrangements  as  thus  administered.  In  the  District 
Conferences  the  business  is  transacted  entirely  in  the 
Hindustanee  language,  and  by  resolution  of  this 
Annual  Conference,  at  its  last  session,  the  English 
tongue  will  be  discontinued  at  its  next  session,  and 
henceforth  all  the  business  of  North  India  Methodism 
will  be  conducted  in  the  language  of  the  country. 
This  fact  will  mark  an  epoch  in  the  completeness 
and  efficiency  of  our  work  in  India,  and  grows  out  of 
the  necessity  of  deferring  to  the  intelligent  judg- 
iwtnt  and  co-operation  of  our  native  brethren,  who 
should,  therefore,  understand  every  thing  that  is  said 
and  done. 

I  was  deeply  interested  all  through  the  Conference 
in  listening  to  the  facts  and  figures  which  our  breth- 


432  Fbom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

jTf ij  wf  re  handling.  In  matters  pf  which,  in  my  days 
there,  we  spoke  and  rejoiced  over  increases  in  our 
statistical  returns  which  did  not  rise  above  tens  and 
hundreds — here  they  were  reporting  similar  interests, 
but  the  tens  had  changed  to  hundreds,  and  the  hun- 
dreds to  thousands  !  Take  tlie  single  item  of  Sunday- 
schools.  At  the  recent  Conference  it  was  found  that 
during  the  year  the  Sunday-scliools  had  increased 
from  344  to  430,  and  the  increase  of  pupils  during 
the  year  was  found  to  be  1,969.  Again,  in  tlie  Rohil- 
cund  District  50  new  Christian  day-schools  had  been 
organized  during  the  year  (chiefly  by  Brother  Gouch- 
er's  aid),  and  30  more  in  the  Oude  District ;  80  new 
day-schools  and  86  new  Sunday-schools  in  one  year 
in  these  two  districts! 

But  I  need  not  continue  the  elucidations  of  the 
prosperity  which  God  is  giving  to  the  labors  of  these 
faithful  servants  of  the  Church,  as  the  statistical  re- 
turns will  present  the  facts  fully  in  the  tabular  state- 
ment, which  will  appear  a  few  pages  farther  on,  and 
there  my  readers  can  consult  them  at  their  leisure  and 
see  how  the  Head  of  the  Church  has  honored  the 
faith  and  devotion  of  our  jS'orth  India  brethren. 

The  number  of  foreign  missionaries  which,  after 
due  consideration  of  the  great  centers  to  be  occupied,  I 
was  led,  in  1858,  to  ask  for  from  the  Missionary  Society 
was  twenty-four.  That  number  they  granted  and  have 
since  retained  there.  In  view  of  the  climate  which 
they  have  to  endure  and    the   exhausting  nature  of 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  433 

their  toil  upon  the  health  and  constitution  of  foreign- 
ers, they  have  stood  well  and  faithfully  to  their  work. 
Four  of  their  number  have  died,  and  four  more  have 
been  permanently  removed  from  the  field  by  failing 
health.  Of  the  remainder,  four  have  been  in  the 
work  fourteen  years  ;  one  for  sixteen  years ;  two  for 
twenty  years;  four  for  twenty-two  years;  two  for 
twenty-three  years,  and  three  for  twenty -five  years  each. 
This  is,  so  far  as  I  know,  as  good  a  showing  for  devo- 
tion to  mission  service  of  men  still  effective,  as  any 
mission  in  India  can  present  to  the  Church  which 
they  serve.  Their  vacations  have  been  well  earned, 
and  they  have  used  them  to  recuperate  their  energies 
and  return  to  their  beloved  work.  The  remaining 
members  of  the  Conference  have  seen  but  thirteen 
years  or  less  of  service. 

It  may  be  observed  that  the  climate  has  pressed 
more  severely  upon  the  ladies  of  the  mission  than  it 
has  upon  tlieir  husbands  the  missionaries,  who  have 
to  be  out  so  much  more  in  the  hot  sun  and  necessarily 
more  exposed.  Yet  so  it  is.  While  only  four  of  the 
brethren  have  died  during  the  twenty-five  years, 
twelve  of  the  ladies  have  gone  down  to  the  grave. 
Six  of  these  have  died  in  India.  It  is  to  be  lamented 
that  so  many  of  these  devoted  ladies  were  physically 
unable  to  cope  with  the  debilitating  effects  of  the 
climate,  and  their  useful  lives  were  so  soon  ended. 
But  they  were  honored  of  God  in  their  service,  and 

when  they  died  they  closed  life  in.Christian  triumph, 
28 


434  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

and  left  memories  which  are  still  fragrant  in  the 
India  Mission.  In  building  and  arranging  homes  for 
the  mission  I  acted  on  the  conviction  that  a  large 
roomy  house,  giving  space  for  storing  plenty  of  the 
fresh  morning  air  to  be  used  during  the  day,  was  one 
of  the  first  essentials  of  health  and  life  in  India. 
They  gratefully  admit  that  my  policy  in  providing 
them  such  homes,  adapted  to  the  climate,  has  done 
much  in  promoting  their  health  and  prolonging  the 
period  of  their  active  usefulness. 

It  is  also  a  fact,  which  ought  to  be  recognized,  in 
gratitude  to  God,  that  not  one  of  the  members  of  this 
mission,  male  or  female,  has  ever  been  lost  at  sea, 
going  or  coming,  during  the  quarter  of  a  century  ;  nor 
has  any  of  them  been  injured  or  died  during  their 
land  journeys.  It  bespeaks  the  care  of  Providence 
over  them,  and  also  the  safety  of  modern  methods  of 
traveling.  Some  of  the  older  missionaries  are  no 
longer  the  strong,  erect  men  whom  I  superintended 
twenty  or  more  years  ago.  Their  toil  has  told  on 
them ;  their  step  is  more  feeble,  and  they  bend  more 
under  their  burden.  But  their  resolution  and  faith 
are  grander  •  now  than  ever  they  were.  The  holy 
cahn  of  sanctified  resolve  rests  upon  their  face  and 
manner,  and  they  look  familiarized  with  victories 
won  for  the  Lord  Jesus,  and  evidently  are  expect- 
ing and  prepared  for  even  ^'  greater  things  than 
these."  As  I  sat  and  looked  a  them  I  could  not  fail 
to  call  to  mind  their  early  trials,  in  face  of  the  organ- 


Fkom  Boston  to  Baijeilly.  435 

ized  resistance  of  earth  and  hell  to  their  work  and  its 
purposes,  and  of  the  long  years  of  persistent  toil 
which  they  have  so  unobtrusively  rendered  to  this 
service,  while  the  Church  at  home  has  known  so 
little  of  them  individually;  I  could  realize  how  pa- 
tiently, nevertheless,  they  have  worked  on,  animated 
by  the  highest  motives  of  the  Cliristiati  *  ministry  ; 
while  separated  by  half  the  breadth  of  the  earth  from 
liome,  children,  and  loved  ones,  and  even  in  India 
scattered  forty  or  fifty  miles  from  each  other  in  their 
charges,  and  meeting  only  at  their  Conferences ;  yet 
they  have  toiled  on,  year  after  year,  devoted  to  God 
and  to  the  objects  of  their  pastoral  care.  In  their 
presence  I  supposed  I  had  not  looked  upon  servants 
of  God  of  whom  more  truthfully  and  worthily  might 
be  quoted  the  lines  of  Robert  Swan,  in  his  poem  on 
the  Sahhath^  where  he  says : 

"  Then  grant,  0  Lord,  mine  earliest,  latest  prayer, 
That  some  sequestered  hamlet  be  my  care ; 
Where  from  all  pride  and  all  ambition  free, 
Save  that  of  winning  many  souls  to  thee, 
I  may,  unnoticed,  pass  my  tranquil  days, 
And  lead  my  flock  in  wisdom's  pleaf»ant  wayis; 
And  meet  in  bliss,  when  every  trial  is  o'er, 
The  little  flock  I  loved  so  well  before." 

The  ability  and  devotion  of  the  native  members  of 
this  Conference  were  so  much  beyond  what  they  were 
in  my  day  that  I  was  greatly  delighted.  Their  good 
training  and  association  with  the  foreign  brethren 
have  evidently  drawn  them  into  an  intelligent  syra- 


436  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeillt. 

patlij  with  onr  Methodistic  ways  and  spirit,  and  is 
quietly  but  decidedly  preparing  tliem  for  the  day 
when  the  Church  will  transfer  to  their  race  the  en- 
tire charge  of  their  own  reh'gious  affairs.  I  would, 
however,  earnestly  deprecate  this  being  done  before 
they  are  properly  prepared  for  it,  in  view  especially 
of  the  magnitude  of  the  interests  involved  and  the 
work  to  be  done.  If  India  were  an  island  or  a  little 
country  with  five  or  ten  millions  of  people,  the  Church 
might  safely  begin  to  agitate  this  question  within  a 
few  years.  With  twenty  millions  of  souls  in  our  own 
particular  field,  and  a  sixth  of  the  human  race  right 
around  them,  it  becomes  us  to  be  very  careful  wliat 
we  propose  if  we  are  not  to  risk  the  blessed  w^ork  so 
far  accomplished.  But  the  Church  may  as  well  settle 
down  at  once  to  the  conviction  that  India  is  not  likely 
to  be  evan2:elized  within  a  life-time.  This  o^lorious 
prize  is  not  going  to  be  laid  at  the  feet  of  the  blessed 
Master  by  one  generation  of  Christian  toilers.  It  took 
primitive  Christianity,  with  all  its  inspiration,  mira- 
cles, and  supernatural  power,  more  than  three  hundred 
years  to  Christianize,  even  nominally,  the  Roman  em- 
pire, including  in  all  fewer  millions  than  India  con- 
tains to  day !  If  we  can  save  India  in  one  hundred 
years,  we  shall  move  three  times  faster  than  early 
Christianity  did.  But  if  it  takes  two  hundred  years 
for  its  accomplishment,  we  shall  do  well,  and  India  will 
be  worth  the  time  and  expense ;  for  her  evangeliza- 
tion would  be  "  life  from  the  dead,"  for  all  surround- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  437 

ing  nations !  So  onr  Church  has  to  receive  into  her 
heart  tlie  solemn  conviction  that  she  has  hard  work 
before  her  tliere ;  that  it  is  going  to  demand  many 
millions  of  her  money  and  hundreds  of  her  sons  and 
daughters  to  accomplish  India's  redemption.  Are  we 
worthy  of  the  success  by  the  hard  labor  it  demands  ? 
But,  if  we  shrink  back  from  the  self-denial  and  sacri- 
fice required  by  the  duty  to  which  God  has  called  us, 
then  surely  woe  must  be  to  us,  and  to  all  that  we 
selfishly  reserve  from  God.  Our  wealth  and  our 
blessings  may  become  a  snare  and  a  curse  to  us.  But, 
the  Almighty,  in  that  case,  will  not  be  defeated  in 
his  object.  If  he  finds  us  unworthy  of  the  labor  and 
the  honor  he  can  cut  us  off,  and  seek  another  Church 
and  people,  with  larger  faith  and  more  worthy  liber- 
ality, to  consummate  for  him  the  grand  work  of  the 
redemption  of  India  !  O  may  God  have  mercy  on  our 
Methodist  Church,  by  arousing  her  to  her  duty,  so  that 
she  may  not  fail  in  the  great  service  which  he  has  at 
last  brought  within  her  reach  to  accomplish  for  him ! 
When  we  begin  to  give  an  average  of  four  or  five 
dollars  per  member  to  this  work,  and  even  then  rec- 
ognize that  it  can  only  be  consummated  "  by  patient 
continuance  in  well-doing,"  we  may  consider  that 
we  have  commenced  in  earnest,  and  can  then  expect 
to  see  earth's  redemption  drawing  nigh.  At  pres- 
ent the  great  heart  of  the  Church  is  not  aroused  or 
in  earnest  in  this  work.  We  are  playing  at  mis- 
sions ;  and  a  thousand  years  of  her  present  liberality 


438  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

will  not  suffice  to  measure  up  with  tlie  increase  of 
population,  or  overtake  the  death  rate,  or  save  the 
one  thousand  five  hundred  millions  of  the  popula- 
tion of  the  world !  The  duty  would  not  only  be 
done  in  one  tenth  part  of  the  time,  but  it  would  cost 
far  less  in  money,  if  we  were  to  arouse  ourselves  to 
fultill  our  Lord's  command  with  means  commensu- 
rate for  its  execution,  and  a  high  resolve  which 
would  never  relax  its  diligence  until  this  work  was 
accomplished,  and  his  Gospel  preached  to  "every 
creature  under  heaven." 

I  am  satisfied,  from  further  inquiry  made  at  this 
Conference,  the  question  of  self-support  is  being  fairly 
placed  before  our  native  members.  Candor  requires 
us  to  remember  tliat  we  usually  reduce  these  people 
to  poverty  by  Christianizing  them.  They  have  to 
"  forsake  all "  to  follow  Christ,  having,  when  baptized, 
to  surrender  home  and  family  ties  and  property, 
"  hated  of  all  for  his  name's  sake."  Counted  as 
dead ;  and,  indeed,  funeral  ceremonies  have  been  per- 
formed for  many  of  them  ;  if  it  were  not  for  the  pres- 
ence of  English  law  hundreds  of  them  would  be  mur- 
dered for  becoming  Christians.  Suffering  thus  "  tiie 
loss  of  all  things,"  they  have  to  begin  in  absolute  pov- 
erty to  seek  a  living.  Surely  such  persecuted  and  be- 
reaved people  should  be  allowed  sufficient  time  ere 
the  burden  of  supporting  their  pastors  is  reqiiired  of 
them.  To  demand  it  too  soon  is  to  discourage  and 
crush  them.     Let  them  have  reasonable   time  and 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  439 

they  will  do  a  Christian's  duty  in  this  matter.     What 
are  the  facts  in  this  case  ? 

A  dollar  in  India  means  far  more  than  it  does  in 
this  country.  There  the  wages  of  a  laboring  man, 
under  the  best  circumstances,  is  but  two  annas  per 
day  (6|  cents),  and  of  an  artisan  just  doable  that 
amount.  Of  course  education  (which  our  converts 
are  anxious  at  once  to  obtain)  gives  them  a  far  better 
chance  of  a  living,  but  it  takes  some  years  to  acquire 
it.  The  duty  of  giving,  "as  God  hath  prospered 
them,"  is  taught,  and  even  urged  upon  all  our  people 
from  the  first,  and  by  none  more  earnestly  than  by 
our  native  preachers.  They  very  carefully  examine 
at  each  District  Conference  what  each  charge  has 
contributed.  The  question  is  considered  in  all  the 
Quarterly  Conferences.  How  fully  and  intelligently 
this  duty  of  self-help  is  recognized  by  our  mission 
may  be  illustrated  by  a  fact  wliich  occurred  lately. 
A  prize  was  offered  for  the  best  essay  on  "  Self- 
support  in  the  Native  Church."  The  proposition  at 
once  awakened  the  attention  of  writers  among  the 
various  missions  of  North  India.  Twenty-four  com- 
petitors sent  in  their  essays  to  the  examining  com- 
mittee in  due  time^  but  both  the  prizes  were  won  by 
two  members  of  our  own  mission :  Isaac  Fieldbrave, 
one  of  our  native  ministei^,  and  W,  Earney,  of  our 
Press  at  Lucknow.  They  were  both  furnished  in  the 
native  language  and  are  now  published.  So  that  it  has 
been  said,  to  our  credit,  that  "  the  mission  of  the  Meth- 


440  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

odist  Episcopal  Cliurcli  is  one  of  the  foj^emost  among 
the  missions  in  India  in  education  on  tliis  subject." 

Reasonable  effort  is  made  to  keep  the  salaries  of 
onr  native  preachers  at  about  that  level  to  which  our 
native  churches  may  hope  to  come  in  their  ability  to 
pay  them  ere  long.  The  lowest  salary  paid  is  about 
S5  per  month,  and  the  highest  about  $17.  Age,  abil- 
ity, family  claims,  etc.,  make  the  difference  between 
these  extremes.  The  Lucknow  native  church  pays 
its  pastor's  entire  salary  (35  rupees  per  month),  and 
now  asks  nothing  of  our  Missionary  Society.  Bareilly, 
Budaon,  Gonda,  Cawnpore,  Setapore,  and  Moradabad 
are  close  behind  in  their  effort  to  reach  the  same 
result.  The  rest  of  the  congregations  give  from 
3  rupees  up  to  54  rupees  each,  and  the  total  contri- 
bution for  this  purpose  from  the  native  churches  for 
the  past  year  was  1,882  rupees  by  the  4,573  India 
members.  Even  already,  then,  we  may  ask  the  candid 
judgment  of  the  home  Church  upon  this  exhibit.  If 
there  be  no  error  in  these  figures,  I  find  that,  com- 
paring this  liberality  of  the  humble  class  of  our  In- 
dia members  w^ith  our  laboring  class  at  home,  where 
wages  are,  say  $1  50  per  day  (which  is  twenty-four 
times  larger  than  the  Hindu  receives  for  his  toil),  the 
Methodist  in  the  valley  of  the  Ganges  pays  what  would 
be  equal  f o  $4  per  capita  from  the  American  Methodist, 
wdth  his  higher  ability,  for  the  support  of  his  pastor. 
Besides,  he  contributes  his  humble  help  to  the  mis- 
sionary and  other  collections.     In  a  church  of  three 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  441 

luindred  members  these  $4  would  yield  here  a  $1,200 
income  to  the  charge. 

The  total  amount  raised  for  self-support  in  India 
from  our  native  and  English  churches  last  year  was 
$4,911  20.  Adding  the  missionary  collection,  $222  80, 
to  which  our  native  members  contributed  their  share, 
and  we  have  a  total  of  $5,133  20  contributed  to  help 
our  Missionary  Society  to  sustain  their  minist^i^y  in 
India.  And  this  is  a  lona  fide  contribution — not 
raised  in  name  and  expended  there  without  relieving 
our  Society  to  that  extent.  It  is  raised  as  missionary 
money  and  for  self-support,  and  is  accounted  for  to 
the  Society,  which  is  helped  to  that  extent,  instead  of 
having  to  bear  the  entire  cost  of  ministerial  support 
in  the  North  India  Conference.  Let  it  be  borne  in 
mind,  also,  that  this  is  but  the  ministerial  aspect  of  the 
contributions,  and  is  only  about  one  sixth  of  what  is 
raised  in  North  India.  The  rest  will  be  found  re- 
ported farther  on,  as  aid  for  schools,  or[)hanages,  re- 
pairs, and  other  benevolences,  to  the  extent  of  over 
$30,000  per  annum.  If  ever  there  was  a  mission  that 
for  its  age  was  a  grand  example  to  Christendom  of 
self-help  and  extent  of  unencumbered  property,  this 
North  India  Conference  is  that  mission.  If  our 
Society  had  to  bear  the  whole  burden  of  that  work  it 
would  have  to  pay  this  $30,000  more  per  annum 
than  what  is  now  required  from  our  missionary  funds. 
The  Society  "  devised  liberal  things,"  and  "  by  liberal 
things   they  stand"   to-day.     While   they  have  the 


4i2  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

satisfaction,  also,  of  knowing  that  tlie  self-support 
from  our  native  members  for  tlieir  own  pastors  is 
quietly  but  decidedly  on  the  increase  all  the  time, 
and  will  yet,  as  soon  as  their  ability  becomes  equal  to 
the  burden,  assume  the  entire  charge  and  release  the 
Society  from  further  claim  on  this  account.  Our 
native  ministry  long  to  cee  that  day  as  much  as  we 
ourselves  do,  and  are  training  their  people  to  antici- 
pate and  work  on  to  it.  Brother  Badley  is  fully 
justified  in  saying,  as  he  does  in  his  review  of  our 
India  ministry :  "  We  are  proud  of  our  native 
preachers.  Most  of  them  could  get  from  thirty  to 
fifty  per  cent,  higher  salaries  were  they  to  give  up 
preaching  and  enter  secular  life  ;  that  they  prefer  to 
preach  the  Gospel  shows  their  earnestness."  "The 
Church  at  home,  no  less  than  its  missionaries  in  India, 
has  reason  to  rejoice  that  the  Hindus,  when  con- 
verted, make  earnest  and  successful  preachers  of  the 
Gospel."  "  In  this  respect,  at  least,  we  in  India  have 
great  reason  .for  gratitude  to  God."  These  grateful 
words  are  all  the  more  impressive  when  we  remem- 
ber that  they  are  uttered  of  the  first  generation  of 
India  Methodist  preachers.  Those  who  have  been 
led  up  from  a  condition  of  Hindu  society,  where 
lying,  selfishness,  and  insincerity  are,  and  have  been 
for  ages  past,  the  marked  characteristics  of  the  people. 
Each  man  among  our  preachers  is  an  evidence  of  what 
divine  grace  and  Christian  training  can  make  out  of 
a  race  which  idolatry  has  so  deeply  debased.     The 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  443 

next  generation  of  these  Christians  and  preachers 
will  rise  higher  still  in  moral  sense,  spiritual  percep- 
tion, and  refinement  of  character.  And  this  will  de- 
velop itself  in  that  depth  of  devotion  and  strength 
of  faith  and  courage  which  may  yet  make  the  native 
ministry  of  India  as  remarkable  in  Christendom  as 
the  heathen  devotees  of  their  race  have  been  for  their 
unparalleled  asceticism  and  endurance  of  religious 
austerities.  Already  they  are  developing  these  quali- 
ties. May  it  not  be  asked,  Where  can  be  found  4,500 
Christians  in  any  land  who  have  endured  more  for 
Christ  and  Christian  conviction  than  this  native 
Church  has  done?  One  by  one  they  have  passed 
through  an  ordeal  of  which  Christians  at  home  know 
but  little ;  and  many  of  them  have  carried  crosses 
and  endured  self-denials  which  must  have  secured  for 
them  the  deep  sympathy  of  their  divine  Master. 

They  are  capable  of  endurance,  and  can  appreciate 
"  the  higher  life  "  of  Christianity.  Entire  sanctilica- 
tion  will  suit  them  well — union  with  God,  to  its  last 
and  highest  degree,  will  meet  the  yearnings  of  their 
souls  for  perfection.  I  can  appeal  to  those  who  have 
read  the  wonderful  Bagvat  Geeta  —  an  episode  of 
the  Malidbliarata — and  who  have  been  solemnized 
as  they  have  contemplated  the  doctrines  and  practices 
of  the  Y ogees  therein  illustrated,  whether  a  people 
who  were  fascinated  by  such  teachings  and  deadness 
to  the  things  of  earth,  are  not  likely  to  enter  with 
ardor  into  the  adoring  contemplation  of    "the  mys- 


444  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

tery  which  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  hath 
been  hid  in  God,  who  created  all  things  by  Jesus 
Christ  ? "  If  they  have  said,  and  done,  and  written, 
and  endured  all  that  is  there  depicted  out  of  affection 
for  Krishna  or  their  other  abstractions,  w^hat  are 
they  not  capable  of  feeling  and  doing  when  "  the  love 
of  Christ,  which  passeth  knowledge,"  shall  become 
their  grand  experience,  and  the  indwelling  of  "the 
true  eternal  God"  shall  develop  in  their  strong  de- 
sires such  a  devotion  to  duty  as  this : 

"  Enlarge,  inflame,  and  fill  my  heart 

With  boundless  cliarity  divine  ; 
So  shall  I  all  my  strength  exert, 

And  love  them  with  a  zeal  like  thine; 
And  lead  them  to  thy  open  side, 
The  sheep  for  whom  their  Shepherd  died  I  " 

As  I  sat  in  that  Conference  and  saw  Brother  An- 
drias  proposing  to  go  forth  as  a  Christian  guru  to 
preach  Christ  without  purse  or  scrip,  and  remem- 
bered that  there  were  two  others  like  him  there,  who 
asked  nothing  of  our  Society  save  a  little  support  for 
their  families  while  they  gave  themselves  to  this 
w^ork  for  God  and  souls,  I  saw  a  strong  intimation 
of  that  future  which  I  anticipate.  These  three  dev- 
otees in  the  North  India  Conference  have  a  line  of 
w^ork  peculiarly  their  own  as  w^andering  evangelists, 
receiving  their  subsistence  from  those  to  whom  they 
preach ;  and  their  brethren  who  are  in  charge  of  sta- 
tions are  in  sympathy  with  them  for  all  the  good 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  445 

they  can  accoiiipHsli  in  gathering  souls  into  the 
Christian  fold.  May  they  prove  to  be  "  men  full  of 
the  Floly  Ghost  and  of  faith,''  and  as  a  self-support- 
ing evangelizing  ministry  may  they  have  many  to 
follow  the  example  of  their  devotion  ! 

The  warmth  of  our  reception  by  all  the  members  of 
this  Conference,  native  and  foreigners  alike,  may  be 
imagined  by  my  readers,  but  cannot  be  adequately 
described  by  me.  Perhaps  it  will  be  enough  if  I 
here  present  the  gracious  and  hearty  report  Avhich 
the  committee  introduced,  and  the  Conference  passed 
by  a  rising  vote,  and  ordered  published  in  their  An- 
nual Minutes.  Dr.  M'Cabe  and  the  kind  friends  who 
responded  to  his  proposition  to  send  us  on  this  de- 
lightful visit  have  a  right  to  know  how  their  generous 
action  was  appreciated  by  the  North  India  Confer- 
ence.    The  report  was  as  follows : 

"  The  close  of  the  year  1883  and  the  opening  days 
of  1884  will  mark  an  epoch  in  our  mission  history ; 
for  during  these  days  and  months  the  loved  and  re- 
vered founder  of  the  missions  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal Church  in  India,  the  Rev.  William  Butler, 
D.D.,  having  returned  from  America  after  an  ab- 
sence of  nineteen  years  (twenty-seven  from  the 
founding  of  the  mission  by  him),  comes  to  review 
the  scenes  of  his  early  labors,  trials,  and  triumphs, 
and  to  see  what  has  been  accomplished — what  God 
hath  wrouglit — since  the  day  he  first  entered  the  val- 
ley of  the  Ganges.     We  desire  to  record  here  our 


446  From:  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

gratitude  to  Dr.  Butler,  so  long  the  Superintendent 
of  these  missions,  that  in  advancing  years  and  im- 
paired health  he  has  found  it  in  his  heart  to  leave 
the  quiet  and  comfort  of  ^his  American  home,  and 
endure  the  hardships  and  inconveniences  of  travel  by 
sea  and  by  land  to  come  once  more  among  us  and 
look  upon  our  work.  The  pleasure  it  has  given  us 
to  meet  him,  and  enjoy  his  mature  counsels,  has 
been  no  common  one.  We  are  glad  and  grateful  to 
him  that  he  has  gone  so  carefully  and  patiently  over 
our  mission,  field,  examining  our  work  in  all  its  de- 
partments, and  taking  so  much  interest  in  all  that  has 
been  shown  him.  We  are  glad,  too,  that  he  has  been 
pleased,  and  that  he  clearly  recognizes  the  hand  of 
God  in  the  great  work  planned  and  now  carried  on 
upon  the  lines  laid  down  by  him  more  than  a  quarter 
of  a  century  ago.  We  are  glad,  too,  that  he  has  been 
able  to  give  the  time  to  look  more  thoroughly  into 
the  plans  and  ininuticB  of  the  work  than  any  one  who 
has  yet  visited  our  field ;  and  we  feel  confident  that 
in  his  representation  of  our  work  before  the  Amer- 
ican churches,  when  he  returns  home,  nothing  but 
good  can  come  to  us,  and  that  all  who  wish  an  intelli- 
gent comprehension  of  God's  work  in  India  will  do 
well  to  hear  Dr.  Butler.  We  pray  that  his  health 
and  strength  may  be  preserved  for  years  of  usefulness 
in  going  among  the  churches,  and  stirring  them  up 
to  greater  diligence  and  earnestness  in  the  cause  of 
the  missions.     We  would  be  greatly  pleased  if  some 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  447 

arrangement  were  raad^  by  wliich  Dr.  Butler  could 
be  entirely  set  free  for  deputation  duty;  and  we 
know  the  result  must  be  a  great  advance  in  mis- 
sionary interest,  intelligence,  and  giving. 

'*  The  same  word  of  w^elcome  and  pleasure  on  our 
part  we  would  accord  to  Mrs.  Butler,  who  has  accom- 
panied her  honored  husband  in  all  his  travels,  and 
without  whose  presence  the  visit  would  have  been  in- 
complete. She  has  taken  the  same  interest  in  all  the 
work  shown  her,  and  has  partaken  of  Dr.  Butler's 
joy  and  gratitude  in  going  over  the  field  of  their 
toil  among  the  troublous  times  of  the  Sepoy  Kebell- 
ion  and  the  following  years.  We  have  all  wel- 
comed them  to  our  midst,  and  heartily  thank  them 
for  coming.  We  pray  for  tlieir  health  and  comfort 
in  tlieir  further  travels,  and  we  shall  not  forget 
them,  nor  the  pleasure  their  cheering  visit  has 
given  us. 

"  We  desire  also  to  send  to  the  Eev.  C.  C.  M'Cabe, 
D.  D.,  of  America,  our  hearty  thanks  for  the  worthy 
part  he  has  taken  in  bringing  about  this  oppor- 
tune visitation  of  Dr.  Butler  and  Mrs.  Butler. 
We  would  fain  hope  that  Chaplain  M'Cabe  may 
find  time  and  respite  from  the  cares  of  his  busy  life 
to  pay  us  a  like  visit  at  no  distant  day.  lie  will 
receive  a  most  hearty  welcome  in  North  India.  We 
request  our  Conference  Secretary  to  send  liim  a  letter 
bearing  our  fraternal  greetings,  and  mentioning  how 
much  we  thank  him  for  the  part  he  has  taken  in  giv- 


448  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

ing  us  this  great  pleasure — the  visit  from  our  former 
Superintendent,  Dr.  Butler." 

We  spent  nearly  two  months  and  a  half  visiting 
the  leading  stations  of  the  South  India  Conference, 
and  had  also  the  privilege  of  attending  their  Annual 
Conference,  held  in  the  city  of  Allahabad  in  the 
month  of  November.  We  were  received  by  these 
good  brethren  with  great  cordiality.  They  were  kind 
enough  to  appreciate  our  visit,  and  the  efforts  which 
we  made  to  become  fully  acquainted  with  their  work. 
The  resolutions  which  they  passed,  expressing  the 
pleasure  which  our  visit  gave  them,  and  the  letter  of 
the  Secretary  to  Dr.  M'Cabe,  were  as  kind  and  cordial 
as  were  those  of  the  North  India  Conference.  Our 
visit  to  their  work  will  long  remain  among  the  most 
pleasant  remembrances  of  this  journey. 

They  were  w^ell  aware  that  I  was  the  representa- 
tive of  a  policy  of  missionary  action  somewhat  differ- 
ent from  their  own ;  but  they  were  specially  kind  in 
answering  my  inquiries,  and  helping  me  to  compre- 
hend what  there  was  peculiar  in  their  methods,  and  the 
reasons  for  their  preference.  I  believe  that  not  one 
of  them  doubted  the  hearty  sympathy  we  had  with 
them  in  their  extended  and  difficult  work.  I  am  satis- 
fied that  their  methods  are  not  properly  or  fully 
understood  by  some  people  at  home,  and  that  they  are 
assumed  to  be  more  apart  from  the  North  India 
brethren  in  their  way  of  working  than  is  really  the 
case.     In  the  liberty  which  I  will  take  in  referring  to 


From  Boston  to  Baeeillt.  44^ 

the  facts,  I  would  fain  present  my  understanding  of 
tliem  in  the  spirit  of  candor  and  genuine  apprecia- 
tion of  the  good  work  which  they  have  done,  as 
well  as  express  my  own  views  of  what  I  understand 
to  be  the  present  necessity  of  their  work.  In  doing 
this  I  will  try  to  have  them  represent  themselves, 
as  far  as  I  can,  in  those  points  where  I  might  be 
presumed  not  to  be  as  capable  as  they  are  to  place 
the  facts  in  question  before  my  readers  for  their 
information. 

To  understand  properly  the  respective  work  of 
these  two  Conferences,  the  dissimilar  circumstances 
under  which  they  were  founded  should  be  borne  in 
mind,  otherwise  any  comparison  of  the  work  must  be 
misleading.  When  the  mission  of  the  South  India 
Conference  was  begun,  nearly  fourteen  years  ago,  the 
class  of  people  whom  it  chiefly  reached  were  the  Eura- 
sians. These  people  all  spoke  the  English  language, 
had  education,  and  were  also  nominally  Christians,  and 
were  generally  well  off  in  temporal  matters.  They 
had  been  neglected  by  almost  all  denominations,  so 
that  when  Brother  Taylor  went  among  them  they 
gratefully  responded  to  his  interest  in  their  spiritual 
welfare,  and  at  once  agreed  to  support  the  ministers 
whom  he  offered  to  send  among  them  as  their  pastors, 
and  also  to  build  their  own  churches.  The  founding 
of  such  a  mission  was  comparatively  easy  work,  and 
was  prosecuted  among  a  people  who  were  very  grate- 
ful for  the  coming  of  the  missionary  among  them. 
29 


450  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

But  the  case  was  far  different  within  the  bounds  of 
the  North  India  Conference.  There  it  was  the  native 
population  whom  we  chiefly  sought ;  people  who  knew 
nothing  of  our  language,  and  regarded  our  religion 
with  fear  and  hatred  from  the  very  first.  They  were 
all  idolaters,  without  education,  and  knew  well  that 
to  embrace  our  religion  was  to  lose  caste,  property,  and 
social  standing,  and  sink  to  the  condition  of  pariahs. 
They  wanted  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  us  or  our 
Christianity,  and  rose  at  last,  in  their  rage,  to  ex- 
terminate us  from  their  country  and  from  the  face  of 
the  earth.  We  had  to  risk  all  this  hatred  and  bloody 
persecution,  to  acquire  their  difiicult  language,  to  pa- 
tiently live  down  their  prejudice,  and  introduce  to 
their  candid  hearing  a  faith  with  which  they  had  not 
one  fundamental  idea  in  common,  and  then  lead  those 
of  tliem  whom  we  could  win  to  a  better  mind,  to 
where  they  were  at  length  made  willing  to  "  suffer  the 
loss  of  all  things,"  and  bear  the  heaviest  crosses  car- 
ried by  Christians  anywhere  in  this  world,  into  the 
communion  of  a  hated  and  persecuted  Christianity. 
Again,  all  this  had  to  be  done  among  a  people  whose 
law,  religion,  and  public  sentiment  were  most  bitterly 
opposed  to  the  education  of  any  of  their  women — 
treating  the  idea  with  scorn  and  contempt ;  and  who 
united  together  to  prevent  those  young  men  of  their 
race  who  first  accepted  Christianity  from  having 
any  home,  and  dooming  them,  so  far  as  they  could, 
to  a  condition  of  celibacy,  and  so  preventing  our  Chris- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  451 

tianity  from  having  any  social  life  or  standing  in  their 
country. 

1^0 \v,  any  person  of  candor  can  see  how  different 
were  the  conditions  under  which  these  two  missions 
began  their  work.  It  w^as  likely,  and  to  be  confi- 
dently expected,  that  the  Eurasian  race  would  gladly 
respond  to  the  Christianity  which  came  among  them, 
and  they  were  very  far  from  persecuting  each  other 
for  embracing  it;  so  those  who  planted  the  Gospel 
among  these  grateful  people  had  a  very  different 
time  of  it  as  compared  with  their  brethren  in  North 
India.  The  wonder  is,  not  that  the  South  India 
brethren  succeeded  as  well  as  they  have  done  in  their 
field,  but  that  the  brethren  of  the  North  India  Con- 
ference were  enabled  to  endure,  witliout  flinching  or 
yielding  their  ground,  that  great  fight  of  afflictions, 
and  to  stand,  as  they  do  to-daj^,  surrounded  by  the 
divine  success  wliich  their  statistics  exhibit.  Not 
unto  them,  but  to  the  almighty  grace  which  enabled 
tliem  to  so  "  triumph  in  Christ "  in  their  more  difli- 
cult  field,  do  tliey  ascribe,  as  is  due,  all  tlie  honor  of 
their  success.  But  the  distinction  should  be  borne  in 
mind  in  order  that  God  may  have  the  glory  due  unto 
his  name. 

Then,  again,  must  be  remembered  the  future 
which  each  work  intimates.  The  Eurasian  and  En- 
glish-speaking population  of  India  is  a  very  limited 
one.  It  is  considered  that  they  are  not  more  than 
three  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  in  number.    Brother 


452  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

Taylor's  efforts  for  tlieir  religious  welfare  and  his 
success  provoked  the  zeal  of  other  denominations, 
which  had  so  long  neglected  these  people,  and  to-day 
their  good  is  more  generally  sought;  so  that  the 
brethren  of  the  South  India  Conference  now  find 
others  competing  with  them  in  this  limited  field. 
They  commenced  among  nominal  Christians,  and 
their  success  was  chiefly  at  the  first ;  their  progress 
since  has  been  rather  slow.  When  the  South  India 
Conference  was  organized,  nine  years  ago,  they  had 
1,596  members,  which,  six  years  after,  had  increased 
to  2.040,  an  increase  of  about  100  each  year.  Tliree 
years  ago  these  figures  stood  at  2,062,  but  there  lias 
of  late  been  a  decrease,  the  numbers  reported  at  the 
last  session  of  the  Conference  being  but  1,898.  It 
has  been  different  in  the  North  India  Conference; 
during  the  above  six  years  its  membership  was  in- 
creased by  1,188  souls.  Though  laboring  among  hos- 
tile heathen,  God  has  yearly  added  to  their  numbers.. 
At  the  close  of  the  Sepoy  Kebellion,  in  1858,  the 
work  began  with  three  members,  won  from  heathen- 
ism ;  at  the  last  session  of  the  North  India  Confer- 
ence there  was  reported  4,573  ;  while  all  the  other  sta- 
tistics, numerical  and  financial,  show  a  corresponding 
condition  of  progress. 

To  evidence  that  in  these  rem.arks  I  am  entirely 
within  the  facts,  I  will  here  quote  the  admission  of 
one  who  has  a  right  to  speak  for  his  Conference. 
Dr.  Thoburn,  of  the  South  India  Conference,  says,  in 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  453 

The  Indian  Witness  for  December  6, 1884,  in  review- 
ing the  work  of  the  year  then  just  eonchided  : 

''  For  some  years  past  the  majority  of  the  churches 
in  the  South  India  Conference  have  been  doing  little 
more  than  holding  their  own,  and  the  time  has  surely 
come  for  them  to  consider  their  resj)onsibilities  anew, 
to  repent  of  past  unfaithfulness,  and  to  consecrate 
themselves  to  better  service  in  the  years  to  come. 

"  Some  of  the  scattered  flocks  are  very  weak,  and 
need  to  quadruple  their  numerical  strength  in  order 
to  be  able  to  hold  the  position  which  they  occupy. 
Some  are  falling  back  into  a  state  of  chronic  discour- 
agement, and  need  to  gird  on  their  armor  anew,  and 
go  forth,  as  in  former  days,  to  battle  and  to  victory. 
The  time  is  opportune  for  sounding  a  new  call  to 
arms  all  along  the  line. 

"  If  we  are  to  march  on  to  a  new  career  of  victory 
we  must  all  at  once  agree  to  leave  the  things  which 
are  behind.  In  all  the  past  the  Church  of  Christ  has 
been  strangely  prone  to  cling  to  the  things  which  are 
behind.  The  failure  of  plans,  the  differences  of  breth- 
ren, the  strife  about  policies,  the  defeats  or  victories 
of  other  days,  all  are  to  be  left  behind.  We  are  to 
enter  upon  the  work  before  us  as  if  it  were  all 
new." 

My  sole  object  in  what  I  write  here  is  to  draw  the 
sympathetic  attention  of  the  Church  to  the  position 
and  necessity  of  these  good  brethren.  It  seems  to 
me  that  Providence  is  crowding  them  out  to  a  higher 


451  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

and  more  imjportant  work  tlian  what  they  have  been 
doing — a  work  more  worthy  of  their  power  and  faith. 
While  holding  well  in  hand  the  good  accomplished 
among  the  Eurasian  race,  they  see  around  their  scat- 
tered stations  two  hundred  and  forty  millions  of  hea- 
then, for  whom  Christ  died,  who  are  "  perishing  for 
lack  of  knowledge.  "  This  greater  work,  of  doing  their 
duty  to  the  unsaved  millions  of  idolaters  within  the 
bounds  of  that  Conference,  is  the  question  that  is  now 
pressing  upon  them  so  seriously  for  consideration. 
They  dare  not  close  their  ears  to  the  call  on  behalf  of 
these  dying  multitudes  within  their  reach.  God  and 
our  Church  expect  them  to  save  these  people ;  but 
they  clearly  see  that  they  are  not  accomplishing  it ; 
yet  they  have  planned  and  resolved  and  made  such 
efforts  as  they  could  consistently  with  the  other  and 
imperative  duties  that  press  so  heavily  upon  them. 
The  financial  burdens  borne  have  been  so  serious, 
the  claims  of  their  English  charges  so  exacting,  and 
the  pressure  upon  health  and  life  in  this  climate  so 
constant,  that  they  have  done  and  endured  all  that 
good  men  could  do,  without  being  able  now  to  pre- 
sent to  the  Church  the  evidence  that  they  can  also 
reach  and  save  the  heathen,  too,  without  help  from 
home. 

Surely,  therefore,  the  hour  has  arrived,  these  things 
being  so,  when  the  question  should  be  considered 
both  by  them  and  by  the  Church  which  they  serve. 
Suitable  men  for  this  additional  work,  and  financial 


Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly.  455 

help  to  pay  tlieir  passages  and  otherwise  assist  them 
in  their  efforts,  are  imperatively  necessary. 

They  desire  no  aid  for  their  English-speaking 
work.  They  tenaciously  hold,  as  they  justly  may, 
that  their  cherished  principle  of  self-support  is  there- 
in vindicated,  and  they  cannot  allow  it  to  be  com- 
promised. They  had  even  hoped  they  could  have 
made  that  work  the  basis  from  which  they  might 
have  been  enabled  to  develop  missions  among  the 
heathen  millions  around  them,  and  for  years  they 
have  tried  to  do  this.  But  their  hearts  are  sad  that 
tlieir  statistics  do  not  show  a  larger  measure  of  suc- 
cess on  this  line. 

I  took  the  liberty  of  saying  to  these  brethren,  that 
in  this  they  were  attempting  to  carry  a  load  too 
great  for  what  resources  were  available  to  them  ;  and 
I  feared  further  perseverance  in  the  effort  could  not 
secure  the  expansion  which  they  so  earnestly  seek. 
In  saying  this,  I  had  before  me  the  fact  that  they  are 
not  the  first  mission  in  India  that  has  made  a  similar 
effort,  and  after  many  years  have  but  little  results  to 
show  for  their*  devotion  and  self-sacrifice.  There 
were  one  or  two  such  in  North  India  which  I  vis- 
ited when  about  to  lay  the  foundation  of  the  North 
India  Mission,  and  now,  when  I  returned  and  in- 
quired for  the  outcome  of  such  self-denying  labors,  I 
was  pained  to  learn  how  small  were  the  results  after 
more  than  thirty  years  of  faithful  and  self-denying 
toil.     Such  missions  certainly  do  not  seem  to  have 


456  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

paid  for  the  liealtli  and  life  that  were  given  to  them. 
It  may  be  there  is  something  in  the  plans  and  policy 
of  the  South  India  Mission  which  will  yield  far 
different  results  in  success  among  the  heathen  (and 
it  is  only  of  work  among  the  heathen  that  I  am  here 
speaking)  after  the  same  term  of  years  has  passed 
over.  But  I  was  not  able  to  see  intimations  of  it,  and 
especially  in  view  of  the  size  and  power  of  that  de- 
voted Conference. 

Still,  every  good  man  should  be  ready  to  rejoice  if 
they  could,  by  their  success  on  this  line,  show  Christen- 
dom a  more  economical  and  rapid  method  of  evan- 
gelizing the  heathen  millions  around  them.  This  is 
what  we  are  all  aiming  to  accomplish.  At  any  risk 
or  cost  of  self-denial  let  us  have  men  saved.  Even  if 
by  going  barefooted  and  subsisting  on  native  fare, 
as  some  of  those  I  have  referred  to  did — and  as 
Major  Tucker,  head  of  the  India  Salvation  Army, 
docs  to-day — we  can  get  more  heathen  saved  in  the 
same  length  of  time,  with  all  the  clear  risk  of  health 
or  life,  there  are  numbers  of  devoted  servants  of  God 
in  the  evangelical  missions  in  India  that  w^ould  not 
hesitate  for  a  day,  or  count  life  or  health  dear  unto 
them,  to  secure  the  greater  good.  But  the  experi- 
ments— and  some  of  them  have  been  costly  in  conse- 
crated life  that  have  been  tried — have  not  given  evi- 
dence, or  furnished  the  success  that  should  now  lead 
God's  servants  to  imitate  such  examples.  Our  North 
India  Mission  was  developed  on  a  different  method. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  457 

Tlie  results  are  before  the  Church.  How  often  was  I 
congratulated  on  these  results,  while  last  in  India,  by 
ministers  and  laymen  of  other  missions,  who  rejoiced 
with  us  in  the  prosperity  vouchsafed  by  the  Head  of 
the  Church  to  the  plans  employed  by  our  parent 
Board  for  evangelizing  the  heathen.  Such  has  been 
the  hand  of  God  upon  us  for  good,  that  no  mis- 
sion in  India  of  the  same  age  has  had  such  a  develop- 
ment, not  in  one  point  only,  but  in  all  respects — a 
harmonious  development  of  all  the  various  interests 
which  make  up  the  life  and  power  of  a  mission — 
numerical,  financial,  literary,  and  spiritual — and  pre- 
pare it  for  a  sustained  growth  and  great  success  in 
the  future.  The  statistical  tables  will  furnish  abun- 
dant evidence  of  this. 

Our  brethren  of  South  India  entertain  a  holy  liorror 
of  having  a  body  of  native  preachers  supported  by 
foreign  money,  generation  after  generation,  stipendi- 
aries upon  missionary  funds,  while  the  churclies  they 
serve  are,  in  a  great  degree,  left  free  from  the  obliga- 
tion of  self-denial  and  liberality  which  should  sup- 
port their  native  pastors.  Herein  I  heartily  sympa- 
thize with  them,  and  would  be  sorry  to  realize  that  I 
was  the  founder  of  such  a  mission.  I  am  aware  that 
our  brethren  need  not  look  far  to  find  evidences  of 
such  a  policy.  But  it  is  not  the  policy  of  the  North 
India  Mission.  Bearing  in  mind  the  explanations 
already  given  and  repeated  in  these  pages,  and,  in 
view   of   the  facts  to  be  presented  in  the  statistics, 


458  Fkom  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

tliat  mission  can  claim  that,  while  they  have  paid  sal- 
aries— as  all  missions  must  do  at  first,  while  the  native 
preachers  are  collecting  congregations,  and  instruct- 
ing them  in  Christianity  and  the  duties  of  the  relig- 
ious life — we  have  never  allowed  them  to  settle  down 
into  the  notion  of  being  pensioners  of  our  Missionary 
Society.  As  soon  as  possible  we  have  made  them 
understand  that  they  should  teach  their  people  that  a 
mission  which  was  not  going  to  be  self-sustaining  was 
not  worth  founding,  and  that  they  must  look  forward 
at  no  distant  day  to  take  the  entire  burden  upon  their 
own  shoulders,  and  let  our  Society  go  elsewhere  to 
evangelize  other  people  ;  that  to  secure  this  end,  they 
must  begin  to  pay  something,  at  God  has  prospered 
them,  toward  the  salary  of  their  preacher,  increas- 
ing it  year  by  year  as  able,  and  look  to  the  Society 
only  for  the  balance  that  they  could  not  yet  raise 
themselves.  This  was  included  in  my  addresses  at 
each  of  the  District  Conferences ;  and  I  found  our 
native  ministry  in  sympathy  with  me  on  this  subject 
of  self-support.  I  have  given  the  reasons  why  pa- 
tience should  be  exercised  with  these  people,  so  many 
of  whom  are  poor,  and  persecuted  as  well,  and  proper 
time  be  granted  them  to  reach  the  position  of  a  self- 
sustaining  Christianity.  Already  they  are,  I  believe, 
ahead  of  any  other  mission  of  their  age  and  size  in  this 
grace,  and  the  Church  can  trust  them  for  the  future. 
Besides,  it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  the  amount 
of  missionary  money  devoted  to  the  support  of  native 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  459 

preacliers  is  very  small.  If  out  of  the  yearly  appro- 
priations we  take  the  amount  necessary  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  missionaries  sent  from  America,  and  for 
buildings,  for  day  and  Sunday  schools,  for  the  press 
and  orphanages,  for  college  and  theological  seminary, 
and  kindred  objects,  the  amount  furnished  toward 
the  support  of  our  one  hundred  and  fifty  native 
preachers,  as  Brother  Parker  has  shown,  would  not 
atyareo-ate  more  than  the  sum  that  is  contributed  for 
the  claims  of  four  of  our  pastors  in  leading  stations  at 
home — such  is  the  modesty  of  the  salaries  of  these 
men,  and  also  the  value  of  the  help  which  their  mem- 
bers are  contributing  toward  making  up  the  amount 
paid  them.  My  readers  will  be  surprised  to  see,  in 
the  statistical  returns,  what  a  numerous  agency  the 
comparatively  small  amount  granted,  added  to  these 
contributions  of  their  members,  does  keep  employed. 
Thus  aided  (but  not  fully  supported)  by  the  Mission- 
ary Society,  they  are  enabled  to  develop  indigenous 
resources  for  work  among  the  heathen,  and  are  aim- 
ing at  increasing  these  results  year  by  year.  Such  is 
the  result  of  our  system.  We  wish  the  outcome  was 
larger,  and  expect  it  will  become  more  so  in  a  steady 
growth.  Yet,  if  any  one,  or  any  mission,  can  show 
us  a  more  successful  method  (not  on  paper,  or  in 
prospect,  but  in  actual  fact  and  success),  we  shall  thank 
God,  and  be  grateful  to  them  for  the  example.  But 
we  sliall  be  excused  in  having  confidence  in  our  own 
method  until  we  are  shown  something  superior  to  it. 


460  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

Onr  brethren  of  the  South  India  Conference  see 
our  work  in  the  valley  of  the  Ganges,  and  are  grate- 
ful for  tlie  power  and  self-reliance  which  it  is  devel- 
oping. Many  of  them  feel  keenly  their  own  inabiUty 
to  reach  the  heathen  to  the  same  extent ;  but  they  all 
cordially  appreciate  what  their  brethren  in  the  North 
India  Conference  are  accomplishing  on  this  line,  and 
the  self-support  that  is  springing  up  as  a  result  among 
our  native  members.  In  evidence  of  this  fact,  I  may 
quote  some  sentences  from  an  article  which  appeared 
in  the  Christian  Standard^  from  the  pen  of  Rev.  S. 
P.  Jacobs,  of  the  South  India  Conference,  just  before 
my  late  visit  to  India.  This  brother  is  a  devoted 
adherent  of  the  policy  which  the  majority  of  that 
Conference  maintains;  but  lie  admits  frankly  their 
inability,  for  want  of  the  help  which  they  need,  but 
are  unable  to  develop  in  India,  to  realize  such  success 
among  the  heathen  as  the  North  India  Conference  is 
achieving  by  the  assistance  of  that  help  from  home, 
which  gave  them  such  a  vig(^rous  commencement  in 
all  the  departments  of  the  work,  and  which  is  now 
continued  in  the  increasing  expectation  of  hastening 
on  the  time  when  the  work  shall  become  self-support- 
ing.    Brother  Jacobs  says : 

"  I  must  write.  I  can  forbear  no  longer.  These 
millions  of  idolaters  have  been  moving  my  heart  in 
their  behalf.  How  Christians  in  the  United  States 
will  meet  these  people  in  the  day  of  judgment,  how 
I  shall  meet  them  then,  and  how  I  shall  answer  for 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  461 

mj  responsibility  in  withholding  any  motive  from 
Christians  to  help  these  people  and  so  hindering  their 
coming  to  Christ  for  salvation,  are  questions  which  I 
have  been  considering  for  some  days. 

"About  a  half-dozen  members  of  the  South  India 
Conference  are  now  engaged  in  the  native  work,  and 
others  feel  pressed  to  enter  it.  Parallel  with  this  call 
upon  men  to  enter  the  native  work,  is  the  wide  door 
of  invitation  among  the  natives  inquiring  for  the  gra- 
cious light  of  God,  and  reading  the  gospels  w^ith  avid- 
ity and  listening  with  wonder  to  the  story  of  the  cross. 
Hardly  a  day  has  passed  for  a  fortnight  that  a  score 
or  more  of  people  have  not  come  upon  these  premises 
to  examine  Christian  life  and  hear  Christian  doctrine. 

"  Just  here  the  prospects  are  met  by  a  difficulty. 
The  initial  work  among  the  natives  must  be  sup- 
ported by  Christians.  The  50,000  rupees  of  church 
debts  will  not  permit  our  little  force  within  the  South 
India  Conference  to  enter  this  inviting  field  of  native 
work  at  once.  Present  progress  at  paying  these  debts 
will  require  from  three  to  five  years  to  free  our  people 
from  debt,  provided  new  debts  are  not  incurred.  A 
little  skirmishing,  of  course,  is  carried  on  from  the 
base  of  our  English  work,  but  no  movement  worthy 
of  the  Gospel  w^e  preach,  or  worthy  of  the  value  of 
these  perishing  souls,  can  be  made  on  present  plans. 

"  I  am  conscious  of  treading  upon  disputed  ground 
here.  There  are  those  who  will  sacrifice  almost  any 
thing  to  maintain  the  glory  of  a  self-supporting  Con- 


462  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

ference  among  the  heatlien.  But  for  the  South  India 
Conference  such  a  pre-eminence  is  already  made  im- 
possible bj  the  thousands  of  dollars  sent  from  America 
to  aid  our  church  or  school  work  at  Bombay,  Calcutta, 
Bangalore,  and  Allahabad. 

"  That  aid  from  home  will  smite  us  with  spiritual 
paralysis,  I  do  not  believe.  With  full  support  from 
home  the  native  work  in  the  North  India  Conference 
is  rapidly  becoming  self-supporting.  Every  appoint- 
ment but  one  contributed  to  the  support  of  the  Gos- 
pel. *Six  appointments  raised  sums  from  180  to  3,000 
rupees  ;'  twenty  appointments  contributed  sums  from 
41  to  72  rupees ;  and  Lucknow  sustained  entirely  the 
English  and  Hindustani  Churches.  Such  is  the  record 
of  the  past  year. 

"  The  questions  submitted  :  Shall  a  general  ag- 
gressive movement  for  the  salvation  of  these  hunger- 
ing millions  be  postponed  ?  or,  Shall  the  immediate 
occupancy  of  the  field  be  taken  with  the  aid  of  Chris- 
tians at  home  ? 

"  How  this  help  is  to  come,  I  leave  for  others  to 
answer.  At  present  we  are  among  the  '  irregulars ; ' 
that  is,  not  under  the  management  of  the  Missionary 
Society.  We  should  be  on  the  same  footing  as  a  home 
Conference  if  we  received  supplemental  aid  from  the 
Missionary  Society.  If  we  continue  in  the  present 
relation,  help  from  home  must  come  through  unof- 
ficial channels  if  it  comes  at  all." 

Perhaps  no  Bishop  that  has  visited  the  South  India 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  463 

Conference  more  fully  appreciated  their  work  and  its 
success  and  needs  than  did  Bishop  Hurst,  who  has 
just  returned  from  it.  In  a  recent  article  in  The 
Christian  Advocate  he  speaks  thus  of  their  w^ants : 

''  Some  tilings  are  greatly  needed  here.  It  makes 
one's  heart  sick  to  see  these  few  men — say  forty-live 
— in  the  midst  of  the  man v  millions.  The  contrast  is 
awful.  This  Conference  needs  one  hundred  more 
men  at  this  moment.  It  is  a  peculiar  Conference.  It 
has  its  own  way  of  doing  things,  one  of  which  is,  that 
it  asks  no  money  from  the  Missionary  Board. 

"  I  sincerely  wish,  however,  that  to  it  would  be 
granted,  and  that  it  would  accept,  $50,000  a  year 
with  which  to  make  a  great  advance  upon  the  native 
population,  and  help  to  break  to  shreds  this  compact 
mass  of  paganism  in  South  India.  The  grant  should 
be  for  native  work  alone.  The  men  are  doing  all  in 
their  power  for  the  natives,  but  they  are  too  nnich 
absorbed  by  the  demands  of  the  work  among  English- 
speaking  people.  Draw.a  line  straight  across  India, 
from  Bombay  to  Calcutta,  and  all  south  of  it  is  the 
main  field  of  the  South  India  Conference.  Besides, 
it  extends  away  north-west  into  the  Punjaub,  even  to 
Lahore  itself,  one  of  the  main  scenes  of  Lalla  Eookh^ 
but  the  prosy  home  of  millions  of  souls  as  unevangel- 
ized  as  was  the  Roman  empire  before  the  Incarnation. 
To  this  broad  and  ripe  harvest  let  men  come  and 
begin  work  with  a  will.  If  such  men  are  worth  hav- 
ing, the  English  congregations  will  want  to  absorb 


464  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

them  immediately.  But  let  tliem  go  right  out  among 
tlie  natives.  Let  tliem  learn  the  Hindustani  imme- 
diately, and  begin  to  speak  it.  No  man  has  a  right 
to  come  from  America  and  enter  either  of  these  Con- 
ferences without  burying  himself  in  the  study  of  the 
language  where  he  is  providentially  placed,  and  aim- 
ing directly  at  the  salvation  of  the  people  speak- 
ing it. 

"Another  great  want  is  schools.  The  need  has 
been  carefully  discussed  in  the  Conference,  but  too 
long  has  it  been  left  in  abeyance.  Here,  then,  are 
the  two  great  and  terrible  wants  of  the  South  India 
Conference  —  more  men  for  the  native  work  and 
larger  funds  for  the  schools.  One  cannot  but  won- 
der, h^^ever,  that  the  work  has  advanced  with  the 
speed  it  already  has.  Our  India  work  is  a  cluster  of 
hard  knots.  The  problems  are  terribly  complex.  Is 
it  wonderful  ?  Here  are  the  millions,  with  their  tan- 
gled faiths  and  one  hundred  and  fortj^-seven  lan- 
guages." » 

To  every  word  of  this  I  add  my  hearty  Amen ! 
Surely  the  Church  and  the  Missionary  Society  must 
ere  long  realize  the  situation  of  these  brethren. 
They  ask  no  grant  for  their  English  work. 
They  have  sustained  that,  and  will  sustain  it,  by  re- 
sources which  it  supplies ;  but  for  the  support  of 
their  schools  and  for  the  passage  monej'  of  mission- 
aries sent  to  them,  and  for  other  interests  of  their 
work  among  the  heathen,  they  are  willing,  and  will 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  465 

be  grateful  to  receive  help  to  enable  them  to  develop 
it  vigorously.  That  "  $50,000  per  annum  "  would 
send  a  thrill  of  joy  and  strength  through  all  that 
Conference,  and  the  effects  would  be  soon  seen,  to 
the  great  satisfaction  of  the  Church,  while  the  grant 
would  release  at  once  for  its  more  legitimate  purpose, 
in  the  development  of  their  work  among  the  heathen 
millions  around  them,  the  resources  which  they  do 
raise,  but  are  now  obliged  to  use  in  aid  of  their  fee- 
ble schools. 

As  a  body  they  recognize  the  North  India  Confer- 
ence plan  of  support  as  being  on  an  equally  script- 
ural basis  with  their  method,  and  seem  to  have 
no  sympathy  with  the  exclusive  or  extravagant  ut- 
terances of  any  one  having  an  overweening  confi- 
dence in  certain  theories  of  their  own  for  doing 
mission  work,  even  to  the  extent  (at  least  by  implica- 
tion) of  reflecting  upon  the  tried  and  approved  meth- 
ods of  the  Church  of  God.  They  do  see  and  know 
that  the  Head  of  the  Church  has  used  and  richly 
blessed  such  methods,  and  that  controversy  upon 
them  is  not,  therefore,  respectful  to  his  grace.  It  is 
only  at  home  that  one  hears  occasionally  remarks  of 
this  sort.  People  in  India  are  not  likely  to  talk  or 
write  in  this  way  in  view  of  existing  facts,  and  the 
brotherly  sympathy  and  convictions  entertained  for 
each  other's  work  by  the  Lord's  servants  in  that  land. 
Our   two   Conferences   there   have    no   antagonism; 

they  dwell  side  by  side  in  unity  and  mutual  apprecia- 
30  • 


466  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

tion  of  each  other  and  each  other's  labors  and  success. 
Of  course  there  may  be  a  h'ability  on  the  part  of 
some  brethren  who  are  on  what  is  called  "  the  self- 
6up23orting  plan"  (though,  of  course,  that  phrase  can 
properly  apply  as  yet  only  to  the  work  among  English- 
speaking  Christians)  to  plume  themselves  somew4iat 
on  the  supposition  that  they  are  sustained  by  a  more 
divine  method  than  their  brethren  who  are  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Missionary  Society,  and  that  the  contri- 
butions wdiich  reach  themselves  through  "  irregular 
channels"  are  just  a  little  more  holy  than  the  money 
raised  and  disbursed  by  the  parent  Board.  They 
know  well  that  both  come  from  the  loving  sympathy 
of  people  at  home,  who  are  equally  devoted  to  the 
Lord's  missionary  work,  and  that  each  is  followed 
by  their  earnest  prayers.  That  they  guard  against 
the  temptation  to  think  or  speak  otherwise  is  evi- 
denced by  the  following  editorial  in  the  Indian  Wit- 
ness of  April  5,  1884,  from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Thoburn, 
in  which  he  warns  his  brethren  against  allowing  them- 
selves to  indulge  in  such  a  weakness  : 

"  In  Miss  Tucker's  letter,  published  in  last  week's 
Indian  Witness,  there  is  a  thought  which  deserves  to 
have  attention  particularly  drawn  to  it.  The  writer 
said  :  '  One  whom  the  Lord  graciously  jpei^mits  to  be 
enlisted  for  life,  one  whom  he  enables  (through  no 
personal  merit)  to  be  independent  of  missionary 
funds,  may,'  etc.  There  is  a  temptation  to  mission- 
aries   who    derive   their  support   through    irregular 


From  Boston  to  Baretlly.  467 

channels  to  think  much  of  themselves  on  that  ac- 
count, and  to  look  down  upon  their  brethren  as  per- 
sons of  inferior  faith.  This  is  worse  than  a  mistake ; 
it  is  a  snare  to  the  men  who  act  and  think  so.  As 
our  correspondent  puts  it,  the  Lord  may  permit  some 
of  his  servants  to  find  their  support  at  a  side  stream, 
but  the  main  channel  is  his  providing  none  the  less. 
The  Church  at  large  would  have  no  opportunity  of 
promoting  the  cause  of  the  kingdom  in  foreign  coun- 
tries if  God  did  not  lay  out  a  broad  and  deep  channel 
for  their  contributions,  and  direct  his  missionaries 
thither  for  their  supplies.  This  providential  arrange- 
ment is  the  means  by  w4iich  the  Church  at  home  and 
the  missionaries  abroad  are  taught  to  feel  that  they 
have  a  common  interest  in  the  evangelization  of  the 
world." 

I  was  equally  pleased  to  find  among  our  brethren 
in  the  South  India  Conference  a  good  common-sense 
view  of  what  is  entitled  "  The  Pauline  Method  of 
Missions,"  and  a  freedom  from  any  theory  that  would 
strain  the  teaching  of  the  Scriptures  upon  this  sub- 
ject. They  know,  as  well  as  we  do,  that  St.  Paul 
had  no  one  plan — no  hard-and-fast  rule — to  w^hich  he 
adhered,  under  all  circumstances,  as  a  means  and 
method  of  doing  missionary  work.  Hence,  w^hile 
they  claim  for  themselves  tlfat  they  are  Pauline  in 
their  procedure,  they  concede,  w^ith  full  frankness, 
that  their  brethren  of  the  North  India  Conference 
are  also  working  on  Pauline  methods.     This  is  made 


468  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

so  manifest  in  a  recent  editorial  of  Dr.  Thobum's, 
that  I  feel  it  a  privilege  to  transfer  most  of  the  arti- 
cle to  my  pages,  in  the  hope  that  its  perusal  will  tend 
to  clear  away  the  mist  which  has  arisen  around  this 
subject  at  home,  and  lead  the  friends  of  both  Confer- 
ences to  rejoice  in  the  unity  of  sentiment  on  this  sub- 
ject, which  exists  among  all  our  brethren  in  India. 
In  the  Indian  Witness  for  May  2, 1885,  Dr.  Thoburn 
writes : 

The  Pauline  Method  of  Missions. 

"  A  correspondent  lias  drawn  our  attention  to  a 
recent  article  in  the  Sunday-ScJwol  Times,  in  w^hich 
the  above  subject  is  discussed  from  a  stand-point 
wholly  different  from  the  one  which  is  usually  as- 
sumed when  it  is  under  review.  The  writer  affirms 
that  the  great  missionary  apostle  carefully  refrained 
from  taking  money  from  those  to  whom  he  carried 
the  Gospel,  lest  they  might  be  tempted  to  think  he 
sought,  not  them,  but  theirs ;  and  that  he  either  sup- 
ported himself  by  his  own  labor,  or  accepted  contri- 
butions for  himself  and  those  with  him  from  distant 
Churches.  This  is  certainly  a  new  interpretation  of 
his  policy,  but,  like  most  of  the  theories  which  are 
put  before  the  public  as  '  Pauline,'  it  is  very  imper- 
fect, and  sets  forth  mucli  less  than  half  the  truth. 

"  The  apostle  Paul  was  a  man  of  robust  common 
sense,  and  was  intensely  practical  in  all  his  plans  and 
purposes.     In  discussing  this  question  of  missionary 


Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  469 

support,  in  his  First  Epistle  to  the  Corinthians  (chap, 
ix,  22),  he  says  that  he  was  '  made  all  tilings  to  all 
men  ; '  that  is,  that  he  adapted  his  policy  to  the  char- 
acter and  circumstances  of  the  people  among  whom 
he  went  preaching  the  word.  In  Philippi  he  adopted 
the  policy  of  *  self-support ;'  that  is,  he  permitted  those 
to  whom  he  preached  to  provide  for  all  his  wants. 
He  did  this,  too,  under  circumstances  which  proba- 
bly called  for  a  sacrifice  of  pride,  as  the  person  who 
entertained  him  free  of  charge  was  a  woman,  and 
probably  a  widow ;  but  her  offer  of  hospitality  was 
accepted,  and  at  her  house  Paul  and  Silas  found  a 
home  during  their  stay.  At  Corinth,  on  the  other 
hand,  a  very  different  policy  was  adopted.  At  the 
outset  the  missionaries  supported  themselves  by  their 
own  labor,  for  reasons  which  reflected  more  honor  on 
them  than  on  their  converts.  At  a  later  day,  in  the 
same  city  and  among  the  same  people,  they  accepted 
*  appropriations,'  from  Philippi,  and  did  so  with  pro- 
fessions of  profound  satisfaction  and  gratitude. 

"  Here  we  have  three  Pauline  methods  illustrated 
in  tlie  space  of  a  very  short  ministry,  and  the  refer- 
ence to  these  instances  ought  to  suffice  to  show  how 
unwise  it  is  to  lay  down  a  modern  policy  on  what 
may  be  supposed  to  be  Pauline  lines,  and  insist  on 
adhering  to  it  through  thick  and  thin,  whether  it 
succeeds  or  not.  We  are  willing  to  be  Pauline  to 
the  extent  of  becoming  all  things  to  all  men,  and  of 
adopting  each  method  in  turn,  or  all  methods  in  part ; 


470  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

but  it  is  more  than  unwise  to  select  a  single  method, 
and  cramp  every  thing  within  its  narrow  compass, 
without  regard  to  time,  place,  or  circumstances.  It 
is  worse  still — it  is,  indeed,  almost  suicidal — to  get  up 
what  might  be  called  a  battle  of  policies,  and  make  it 
seem  that  the  man  who  draws  his  support  from  afar 
is  disloyal  to  New  Testament  teaching,  or  that  the 
man  who  is  supported  by  those  to  whom  he  preaches 
is  not  a  real  missionary,  or  that  the  man  who  earns 
his  living  by  the  work  of  his  hands  is  a  mere  secu- 
larist. The  devil  will  be  delighted  to  the  end,  if  the 
friends  of  missions  can  only  be  induced  to  quit  real 
work  and  betake  themselves  to  quarreling  over  ques- 
tions of  policy  or  method  in  this  way. 

"  We  believe  it  is  generally  agreed  among  mission- 
aries in  India — it  certainly  is  in  our  own  Methodist 
circles — that  self-support  is  the  ultimate  policy  at 
which  all  should  aim.  In  reaching  it,  however,  diffi- 
culties are  met,  and  there  are  differences  of  opinion 
as  to  what  extent  foreign  aid  should  be  sought  or 
accepted.  We  are  clearly  of  the  opinion  that  no 
hard-and-fast  rule  can  be  laid  down,  which  will  cover 
all  cases  and  be  found  practicable  under  all  circum- 
stances. Let  us,  then,  revert  to  the  Pauline  policy  of 
using  our  sanctified  common  sense  to  determine  what 
is  bes^  in  view  of  all  the  circumstances  involved.  Let 
us  become  '  all  things  to  all  men.'  If  those  to  whom 
we  go  are  suspicious  or  niggardly  in  spirit,  let  us 
scrupulously  avoid  taking  any  thing  from  them ;  but 


FiioM  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  471 

if  tliej  are  generous  and  hospitable,  and  if  we  can,  by 
putting  ourselves  under  obligation  to  them,  win  their 
good-will,  by  all  means  let  us  accept  their  support. 
Even  though  they  be  very  poor,  it  may  be  God's 
plan,  perhaps  at  the  expense  of  our  pride,  to  let  us  be 
supported  by  them.  Elijah  had  to  accept  the  support 
not  only  of  a  widow,  but  of  a  very  poor  widow,  and 
his  doing  so  enriched  her.  The  widow  at  Philippi 
cited  by  Paul  was  not  poor,  but  the  principle  illus- 
trated was  the  same  in  each  case.  And  yet  every  town 
does  not  contain  a  widow  who  is  worthy  of  this  kind  of 
ministry ;  and  hence  till  the  end  come  it  will  be  neces- 
sary for  Christian  Churches  to  send  forth  messengers 
to  the  regions  beyond,  and  to  contribute  to  their  sup- 
port, or,  as  Paul  used  to  say,  ^communicate'  with  them 
'  concerning  giving  and  receiving.' " 

In  order  to  promote  permanent  unity  in  India 
Methodism,  and  to  provide  a  central  authority,  to 
whose  decisions  and  guidance  all  matters  of  general 
interest  will  be  referred,  the  General  Conference 
of  our  Church  provided  *br  the  organization  of  a 
"Central  Conference"  in  India.  This  body,  com- 
posed of  delegates  from  each  Annual  Conference, 
was  duly  organized  under  the  presidency  of  Bishop 
Hurst  during  his  visit  to  India  in  1885.  It  will  hence- 
forth supervise  all  interests  held  in  common  by  the 
Annual  Conferences,  such  as  the  general  publish- 
ing interests,  education,  courses  of  study,  Sunday- 
scliool  and  tract  work,  theological  schools,  and  kindred 


472  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

interests.  Probably  the  question  of  boundaries  of 
the  Annual  Conferences  will  be  also  left  to  its  adjust- 
ment. Ample  provision  has  thus  been  made  for  the 
growth,  the  unity,  and  efficiency  of  India  Method- 
ism, on  a  scale  commensurate  with  the  greatness  of 
the  work  w^liich  the  evangelization  of  one  sixth  of 
the  human  family,  contained  in  that  wonderful  land, 
will  require  in  the  bright  future  which  has  dawned 
upon  it. 

I  will  now  present  the  statistical  returns  of  each 
of  tliese  Conferences,  as  furnished  at  their  recent 
meeting,  and  in  the  third  column  w^ill  combine  them, 
so  as  to  show  my  readers  "what  God  has  w^rought" 
in  India  during  the  first  quarter  century  of  our 
Church  action  in  that  country.  I  was  aware  that  in 
the  usual  tabular  statements  published  in  Minutes  and 
Keports  many  important  items  are  not  usually  given, 
which,  nevertheless,  in  a  comprehensive  exhibit  at 
the  close  of  a  term  of  years  like  this,  would  aid  in  a 
fuller  realization  of  the  work  done.  Accordingly,  I 
drew  np  more  complete  forms  and  sent  identical 
copies  to  the  secretarj^  of  each  Conference,  and  also 
to  one  of  the  presiding  elders,  with  the  request  that 
they  would  carefully  fill  up,  to  the  fullest  extent 
possible,  their  own  Conference  statistics,  and  return 
them  to  me  for  publication  in  this  work.  This  was 
done,  but  I  had  to  write  two  or  three  times  after 
their  reception  in  order  to  obtain  explanations  and 
have  omissions  supplied.     By  the  kindness  of  all  con- 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  473 

cerned  tins  at  length  has  been  accomplished,  and  the 
Church  has  presented  to  her  view  on  pp.  475-478 
a  more  full  and  complete  representation  of  her  mis- 
sions in  India  than  she  has  ever  before  seen. 

To  enable  my  readers  to  appreciate  the  work  which 
w^e  now  record,  I  will  first  place  before  them,  as  a 
point  of  comparison,  the  statistical  return  presented 
at  our  first  annual  meeting  in  1858 — which  was  our 
starting-point  at  the  close  of  the  Sepoy  Kebellion,  and 
represents  the  work  done  at  ISTynee  Tal  during  the 
six  months  preceding  the  end  of  that  struggle.  In 
connection  with  my  visit  to  Delhi,  I  had  delayed  un- 
til the  road  from  Calcutta  to  Agra  had  been  so  far 
cleared  of  the  Sepoy  forces  that  passengers  could  vent- 
ure to  come  up.  The  two  missionary  families  who 
had  been  waiting  at  Calcutta  then  joined  me,  and  we 
proceeded  to  Nynee  Tal  via  Mussoorie,  and  began 
work  tliere  till  peace  and  order  had  been  restored  in 
the  plains  below.  It  was  but  the  infancy  of  our  mis- 
sion. How  feeble  the  native  work  appears — "  one 
member  and  four  probationers  !  "  with  thirty-five  at- 
tendants on  worship,  and  forty-one  scholars !  From 
this  we  will  turn,  with  adoring  gratitude,  to  contem- 
plate the  results,  as  reported  at  the  recent  sessions  of 
tlie  two  Annual  Conferences  into  which  this  feeble 
work  has  developed,  at  the  close  of  the  first  twenty- 
five  years.  This  return  is  taken  from  our  first  Annual 
Report,  as  published  in  The  Missionary  Advocate  for 
January,  1859  : 


474  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

Extract  from  the  Minutes  of  the  First  Annual  Meeting  of  the  Mission 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  held  in  Nynee  Tal,  August  20, 1 858. 

Statistics  of  our  Mission  in  India. 

1.  As  to  the  Laborers  in  the  field. 

Ordained  Missionaries :  William  Butler,  R.  Pierce,  J.  L.  Humphrey. ...  3 

Preacher  on  Trial :  J.  Parsons 1 

European  Assistants :       S.  Knowles,  Wesley  Maxwell 2 

Native  Preachers :  Joel  Janvier,  Azim  All 2 

"       School  Teachers :  Samuel,  Meabrit 2 

Total 10 

2.  As  to  the  Membership. 

The  Hindustanee  Class :  Member 1 

"  *'  "  Probationers 4 

"  *'  "  Catechumens  (orphans) 6 

Total 11 

The  Mission  Class :  Full  Members 12 

"   Soldiers'    "  Probationers 6 

Total  Members,  Probationers,  and  Catechumens —  29 
8.  As  to  Congregations. 

The  Hindustanee  Congregation,  averaging 35 

"   English  "  "         90 

4.  As  to  Schools  (2  In  number). 

The  Boys  School,  No.  Boys 25 

"   Girls'       "        "    Girls 16 

Total  number  of  Scholars 41 

I.  Stations  of  the  Missions  for  the  coming  Year. 

W.  Butler,  Superintendent. 
Bareilly:  J.  L.  Humphrey,  J.  Parsons,  Azim  Ali,  Samuel. 
Lucknow :  R.  Pierce,  Wesley  Maxwell,  Joel  Janvier. 
Nynee  Tal :  S.  Knowles,  and  a  Native  Teacher. 

II.  Property  of  the  Mission. 

At  Nynee  Tal,  a  Mission-house  and  6K  acres  of  Land,  costing $1,650 

And  a  Chapel  and  School-house  in  process  of  building,  to  costabout.   1,750 
With  School  Furniture  and  Books,  about  75 

Making  a  total  of $3,475 

Of  which  sum  the  Missionary  Treasury  paid 1 ,350 

Leaving  a  balance  of $2,125 

which  was  furnished  by  generous  friends  of  our  Mission  in  this  country  during 
the  past  three  months. 


Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 


475 


We  now  present  the  summaries  of  the  work  of  the 
two  Annual  Conferences,  into  which  the  preceding 
feeble  commencement  has  developed,  as  furnished  by 
their  respective  secretaries  from  their  Minutes. 

Statistical  Summary  of  the  Missions  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
Church  in  India  for  the  Year  ending  December,  1884  : 


Numerical  Statistics. 


N.rtb    Indiu 
Coiif«iei)ce. 

South  India 
Conterence. 

25 
24 

44 
30 

49 

74 

36 
98 
32 

3 
9 

166 
3 

12 
56 

194 

112 

394 
31 

646 
24 

26 
24 

328 

73 

.... 

1,386 

483 

2,2a5 

2,2S3 

130 

100 

138 

9 

4,698 

247 

30 
85 

502 
1,158 

1,907 

4,813 

491 

238 

288 
847 

163 
28 

635 

191 

7,186 

500 

139 
C,0»1 

60 
3,147 

Total. 


I.  Agency  of  the  Church. 

Missionaries,  No.  of  male  missionaries.. 
No.  of  female  missionaries 


Total  foreign  missionaries 


Native  preachers,  No.  ordained 

Local,  regularly  employed  in  the  work. 
Exhorters,  acting  as  supplies 


Total  natives  in  charge  of  congregations. 
English  local  preachers 


Total  native  and  foreign  preachers. 


School  teachers,  in  the  day-schools 

In  the  high  schools 

Teachers  and  officers  in  Sunday-schools  . . . 

Bible  rolporteurs,  regularly  employed 

other  helpers,  in  Theologcal  Seminary,  Nor- 
mal School,  hospitals,  dispensaries,  press,  etc, 


Grand  total  of  workers  of  all  kinds. 

H.  Membership  and  Baptisms. 

Native  members,  on  probation 

In  full  connection 

Native  unordained  preachers 


Total  native  membership . 

English  members,  on  probation. 
In  full  connection 


TotaJ  membership,  native  and  English. 
Conversions  during  the  year  1884 


Baptisms  during  the  year  1884,  infants. 
"  "  "     adults.. 


Total  baptisms 


Adherents,  or  native  Chrlstian.s,  under  pastoral 
care 

Regular  congregations  (besides  bazaar  au- 
diences)   

Average  attendants  on  Sabbath  worship. . . . 


69 
54 

123 

39 
107 
82 

178 
59 

303 

420 
55 

9T4 
24 

73 

1,869 


2,3a5 

2,421 

139 

4,945 

43-3 
1,343 

6,720 

729 

451 
375 

826 


7,686 

199 
9,181 


476 


From  Bostox  to  Bareilly 


NCMERICAL    SrAT  STICS. 


III.  SCHOOLS. 

High  schools.  No.  of  schools 

No.  of  male  pupils 

No.  of  female  pupils 

Total  pupils 

Of  these,  No.  of  Christian  boys 

No.  of  Christian  girls  

Total  Christian  pupils 

Total  non-Christian  pupils 

Common  schools,  Vernacular  and  Anglo-ver- 
nacular, No.  of  male  schools 

No.  of  female  schools 

Total  schools 

No.  of  male  scholars 

No.  of  female  scholars 

Total  scholars,  male  and  female 

Of  these.  No.  of  Christian  boys 

No.  of  Christian  girls 

Total  Christian  scholars 

Total  non-Christian  day  scholars 

Sunday -schools.  No.  of  schools 

No.  of  male  scholars 

No.  of  female  scholars 

Total  Sabbath  scholars 

Of  these.  No.  of  Christian  boys 

No,  of  Christian  girls 

Total  non-Christian  Sabbath  scholars. . . . 

Orphans,  No.  of  male  orphans 

No.  of  female  orphans 

Theological  Seminary,  No.  of  students 

Normal  School,  "  "       

IV.  The  Mission  Press. 

No.  of  languages  employed 

Volumes  issued  during  1884 

Pages  "  "         

V.  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society. 

Missionaries,  of  whom  three  are  doctors  in  N.  I, 
Assistant  missionaries,  English  and  Eurasian.. 

School  teachers 

Zenana  visitors  and  Bible  women,  etc 

Other  native  helpers  iu  Orphanage  schools,  etc, 

Total  agents  of  the  W.  F.  M.  Society — 


North    India  South  India 
Conference,  j  Conference. 

6 
679 
207 

886 

3 

522 

467 

. .-J 

989 

222 

207 

273 
272 

~429 
457 

644 

250 
149 

17 

405 

17 

8,068 
3,232 

"11,300 

984 
843 

1,827 

1,089 
811 

564 

7t3 

1,900 
9,400 

1,272 
555 

479 
12.690 
5,379 

"l8,069 

54 

2,881 

~2",881 

2,443 

1,921 

13,705 

238 

264 

30 

35 



5 

31,750 

2,961  »000 

16 

m 

78 
139 
89 

6 

'38 

S5ii 

44 

From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 


477 


NCMERICAL    AND   FINANCIAL   STATISTICS. 


North    India 
Conference. 


(W.  F.  M.  SociKTY— Continued.) 

Schools,  Vernacular  and  Anjilo-vernacular 

Zenanas  regularly  visited 

Zenana  women  under  regular  religious  in 

struction 

Women  in  villages  under  instruction 

Orphan  girls  (counted  under  No.  HI) 

Girls  in  schools  "  "  

Total  women  and  girls  under  instruction.. 

Medical  work,  native  female  physicians 

Medical  Bible  women 

Assistants  in  hospitals  and  dispensarlies. . . 

Medical  students  under  training. 

Patients  visited  in  zenanas  during  1884  . . . 

*'       treated  in  dispensaries 

"       received  into  hospitals 

Prescriptions  issued  during  the  year 

Inmates  in  Home  for  Homeless  Women. . . 


VI.  Financial  Statistics  for  1884. 

1.  Contributions  IromNativc  churches : 

Collections  for  Missionary  Society 

Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society 

Sunday-schools 

Education 

Current  expenses,  sexton,  light,  etc 

Support  of  their  own  pastors 


Total  contributions  from  native  churches 


School  fees  from  native  pupils 

Grants  and  donations  from  native  municipalities 
In  aid  of  schools,  orphanages,  hospitals,  etc.  • 

Total  receipts  from  native  sources  in  1884 


,  Contributions  from  English  churches  and 
friends  in  1884 : 

Collections  for  the  Missionary  Society 

Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  . . 

Bible  Society 

Sunday-schools 

English  education  and  schools 

Current  expenses,  sexton,  light,  etc 

Support  of  their  own  pastors 

Building  and  repairing  churches  and  par- 
sonages  

Presiding  elders'  claims 

Support    of     native    schools,    orphanage, 

press,  etc 

Grants  in  Aid  from  government  for  schools, 
orphanages,  dispensaries,  etc 


Total  amount  from  English  sources  in  1884. 
Add  receipts  from  native  churches,  etc 


Grand  total  from  all  sources  in  India  in  1884. . . 


South  Indiii 
Conference. 


118 
2,095 

3,195 

1,880 

2,687 
8,027 


4 
3 

429 

16,67F 

83 


34 


Rupees 

382 
385 
110 
349 
1,61 
1,88 


4,725 

3,85C 
1,170 
9,751 


175 
4,030 
209 
560 
5,152 
1,868 
6,911 

5,315 


3,971 

40,553 

6S,744 
9,751 

78,495 


Rupees. 


5,632 

■'70 

3,428 

48,087 

30,999 

48,395 

19,025 
1,.560 

2,084 


159,280 


lis 

2,095 

3,195 

1,880 

264 

2,687 

8,027 

3 

6 

4 

3 

429 

16,678 

83 

26,247 

34 


Rupees. 

382 


110 

349 

1,617 

1,882 

4.725 


3,856 
1,170 
9,751 


5,807 
4,030 
279 
3,968 
53,239 
32,867 
55,306 

24,340 
1,560 

6,055 

40,553 

228,0^ 
9,751 


478 


Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 


Financial  Statistics. 


North    India  South  Indi* 
I  Coiil'ereiice.  |Coiitcrei)ce, 


VII.  Property  of  our  Church  in  India. 

Places  of  worship,  regular  churches 

Halls  and  school-houses  where  services  are 

held 

School-houses,  vncludlng  common  and  high. 

Parsonages  for  foreign  missionaries 

"         for  native  pastors 


Estimated  value  of  this  property  : 

Churches 

Parsonages 

High-school  buildings 

The  Smith  School,  Mussooree 

Common  school  buildings 

Theological  Seminary 

Endowment  of  Theological  Seminary. . . 

Mission  press  and  its  endowment 

Other  endowments,  by  Gen.  Gowan  and 

Major  Orr .• 

The  orphanages  on  the  plains  and  the  hills 

Hospitals  and  dispensaries 

Sanitarium  buildings  and  furniture 

Itinerating  equipage,  tents,  etc 

Other  Conference  property 

Endowment  of  the  Native  Woman's  Paper 

Total  value  of  mission  property  In  India.. 
Amount  of  debt  remaining  on  this  property. . . 


VIII.  EXTENT  OF  Aid  Realized  in  North  In- 
dia Conference  from  1858  to  1884. 

From  1858  to  1868,  as  reported 

1869  to  1878,  partly  estimated 

1879  to  1882,  as  reported 

188:3  to  1884,  as  reported 

The  Thomas  endowment  for  the  Theological 

Seminary 

Toward  the  endowment  of  the  press 

Nawab's  house  and  land  for  Woman's  Foreign 
Missionary  Society .". 

Total  help  raised  in  India  since  1858 

(The  details  are  found  in  the  published  reports 
of  the  society  yearly.) 

Number  of  towns  and  cities  where  Methodism 
has  a  standing  to-day,  as  centers  of  work 

Cities,  towns,  and  villages  where  native  Chris- 
tians reside,  more  than 


37 


Rupees. 

194,200 
180,113 
147,200 

118,000 
40,000 

116,000 
58,000 

25,000 
24,000 
2^3,000 
16,000 
3,850 
4,200 
50,0(K) 

1,008,563 


227,621 
138.000 
89,89' 
72,21' 

40,000 
2g,000 

20,000 


615,735 


131 
700 


29 


Rupees. 

302,426 
77,325 
20,000 
20,000 


419,751 
29,025 


To  God  be  all  the  glory 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  479 

It  was  certainly  due  to  the  worthy  English  friends 
of  our  North  India  Mission,  under  whose  eyes  that 
work  was  founded,  and  wlio  have  sympathized  with  its 
progress  to  tliis  hour;  and  before  whom,  for  twenty- 
five  years,  have  been  the  daily  lives  of  our  faithful 
missionaries  and  their  native  assistants  and  members, 
that  this  record  should  be  made  of  their  princely 
generosity.  I  have  named  one  or  two  of  them  al- 
ready. These  men,  in  all  ranks  of  life,  from  the 
British  general  to  the  private  soldier,  and  from  the 
Viceroy  of  India  to  the  humblest  member  of  the  civil 
service,  all  alike  have  shown  their  interest  in  this 
great  work  of  God.  When  to  this  I  add  the  fact, 
that  they  were  nearly  all  connected  with  other  Chris- 
tian denominations — not  one  in  twenty  of  them  be- 
ing a  Methodist — their  generosity  has  been  the  more 
disinterested  and  valuable  to  us.  I  feel  it  to  be  a 
duty,  and  a  privilege  as  well,  to  place  on  record  here 
the  obligation  of  our  Church  and  people  to  these 
generous  benefactors. 

Such  has  been  the  munificent  aid  which  those  gen- 
erous friends  and  their  government,  and  also  some 
liberal  native  gentlemen,  have  extended  to  the  work 
of  our  Missionary  Society  in  India.  The  humble  of- 
ferings of  our  own  native  Christians  have  helped, 
even  though  but  a  little,  in  swelling  this  aggregate. 
Here  was  the  encouragement  which  led  the  parent 
Board  and  General  Committee  to  "  devise  those  lib- 
eral things"  which  enabled   the  Superintendent,  as 


480  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

advised  bj  Bisliop  Simpson,  to  "lay  deep  and  broad 
foundations  for  Methodism  in  India,"  and  which  have 
continued  since  to  build  up  our  work  on  the  lines  then 
laid  out  for  it. 

The  value  of  the  rupee  is  forty  cents.  The  Sec- 
retary of  the  South  India  Conference  regrets,  in  his 
communication,  that  their  statistics  are  not  more  def- 
inite in  several  items  asked  for.  He  is  my  authority, 
as  the  Minutes  do  not  show  it,  for  the  figures  of  their 
native  membership — "being  one  in  eight  of  the 
whole  number" — and  he  also  adds  that,  of  the  238 
conversions  during  the  year,  26  of  that  number  were 
natives.  If  the  figures  were  furnished  as  fully  as 
those  of  the  North  India  Conference,  there  are  several 
items  that  would  have  made  the  exhibit  still  more 
favorable  for  the  Soutli  India  Conference.  But  I 
have  inserted  all  the  representation  that  was  possible 
with  the  information  available  to  me. 

In  the  property  exhibit  of  the  North  India  Con- 
ference, that  of  the  Ladies'  Society  is  included,  and 
also  their  girl  pupils  in  the  school  exhibit,  but  not 
the  zenana  and  village  women  under  their  instruc- 
tion. The  report  on  page  477  gives  the  full  exhibit 
of  their  work.  I  ought,  also,  to  add  that  in  the  North 
India  Conference  there  are  three  of  the  male  mission- 
aries who  are  doctors,  and  there  are  also  three  doctors 
among  the  native  preachers — Harkua  Wilson,  Amos 
Miller,  and  Edward  Thomson.  The  former  are 
doing  good  service  at  Bareilly,  Lucknow,  and  Agra. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  481 

The  native  physicians  are  in  the  Kumaon  District, 
and  the  following  is  the  aggregate  of  their  medical 
services  for  the  year  past  in  the  three  stations  occu- 
pied by  them : 

Patients  treated,  Male 7,804 

*•  "        Female 2,730 

"  •'        Cliildren 1,966 

Total  cases 12,500 

There  were  besides  130  surgical  operations,  of  which 
110  were  minor  and  20  major.  It  should  also  be  ob- 
served that,  in  the  items  of  native  liberality  (beyond 
the  1,882  rupees  toward  the  support  of  their  own  pas- 
tors), tliere  was,  as  usual,  some  help  from  the  mission 
families  in  those  collections — for  the  Missionary  So- 
ciety, current  expenses,  the  native  auxiliaries  of  the 
"Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  etc.  But,  after 
deducting  this  help,  most  of  the  contributions  were 
from  the  natives  themselves,  and  the  result  shows 
that  the  yearly  giving  is  already  up  to  4,000  rupees 
from  our  native  membership. 

It  should  also  be  stated  that  the  Minutes  of  the 
North  India  Conference  show  an  aggregate  of  99 
"  unpaid  voluntary  workers :  "  such  as  local  preachers 
not  regularly  employed  in  the  work,  native  preachers' 
wives  acting  as  Bible  women,  etc.  ;  adding  to  these 
most  of  the  646  Sunday-school  officers  and  teachers, 
that  Conference  has  a  band  of  over  700  helpers  in 
their  force,  whose  services  are  rendered  without  re- 
ceiving any  earthly  compensation  for  them. 
31 


482  FpwOm  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

While  profoundly  grateful  to  God  and  his  serv- 
ants for  this  Numerical  and  Financial  Exhibit  of 
our  Missions  at  the  close  of  the  first  quarter-century 
of  their  existence,  we  realize  that  all  this  is  but 
means  to  the  ends  we  aim  at — the  mere  scaifoldins: 
of  the  building  w^hich  we  are  erecting.  Unencum- 
bered property,  munificent  financial  aid,  and  nu- 
merical prosperity  are  good  and  necessary  in  their 
way  ;  but  they  might  all  appear  without  a  living  ex- 
perience of  salvation,  like  a  beautiful  body  without  an 
animating  soul.  The  glory  of  a  Christian  mission  is 
in  the  amount  of  its  spiritual  life,  and  that  cannot  be 
tabulated ;  but  it  can  be  ''  felt  and  seen "  and  illus- 
trated in  the  lovely  "fruits  of  grace."  This,  after 
all,  w^as  what  drew  forth  our  deepest  gratitude  as  we 
went  from  station  to  station  in  our  mission.  We 
realized  that  our  native  membership  had  a  Christian 
experience ;  that  they  were  able  to  live  their  religion, 
and  to  die  w^ell,  when  they  came  to  die.  And,  when 
to  this  we  found  added  a  converted  native  ministry, 
called  by  the  Holy  Spirit  to  the  work,  we  felt  that 
the  highest  gifts  of  God  had  been  bestowed  upon  our 
mission,  and  that  our  hearts  need  feel  no  solicitude  in 
regard  to  its  permanence,  for  here  were  the  essential 
and  divine  elements  of  its  future  life  and  usefulness. 

What  that  work  is  capable  of,  in  meeting  and  over- 
throw^ing  this  colossal  and  organized  heathenism,  was 
gloriously  illustrated  in  March,  1885,  at  Ajudhiya, 
where,  amid  the  din  and  madness  of  a  preposterous 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  483 

idolatry,  in  which  fifty  or  sixty  thousand  people  had 
assembled,  according  to  custom,  to  worship  Hanuman, 
the  monkey -god,  two  of  our  native  ministers,  Am- 
bica  Charn  Paul  and  Chimman  Lai,  with  one  or  two 
helpers — men  full  of  faith  and  of  the  Holy  Spirit, 
were  honored  of  God  during  those  three  days  to  ac- 
complish for  him  the  most  glorious  work  yet  known 
in  that  land.  A  brief  description  of  it,  in  two  letters 
from  Kev.  B.  II.  Bad  ley,  will  lead  ray  readers  to  bow 
their  heads,  as  I  do  mine,  before  the  display  of  this 
wonderful  grace  of  God.  The  happy  missionary 
writes : 

"It  is  safe  to  say  that  at  no  mela^  in  j^orth  India 
at  least,  has  there  been  such  a  manifestation  of  the 
saving  power  of  Christ  as  at  Ajudhiya  this  week. 
The  great  ^  Ram  Naomi '  mela^  held  in  this  sacred 
city,  the  birthplace  of  Eam  Chandra,  as  the  Hindus 
declare,  was  largely  attended  ;  several  of  our  native 
preachers  from  Lucknow,  Rev.  Chimman  Lai,  Philip 
Andrew,  and  a  colporteur,  together  w^ith  Rev.  A.  C. 
Paul,  of  Barabanki,  went  to  Ajudhiya  last  Monday. 
On  Tuesday  morning,  the  24th,  before  beginning  the 
day's  work,  the  brethren  engaged  in  prayer  in  their 
tent.  A  poor  leper,  a  Brahmin,  heard  and  drew  near 
the  tent :  some  by-standers  said  jestingly  to  the  breth- 
ren, *  Here  is  a  hopeful  case  for  you ;  make  this  man 
a  Christian.'  The  brethren  had  the  man  come  into 
the  tent,  and  one  of  them  began  praying:  at  once 
the  power  of  God  was  manifested,  the  leper  began  to 


484  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareillt. 

pray  in  the  name  of  Jesus,  and  with  tears  streaming 
down  his  face  he  soon  confessed  Christ  had  heard  and 
saved  him.  He  cast  away  his  janeu  (sacred  thread)? 
gave  his  necklace  of  praying  beads  to  tlie  brethren, 
and  with  a  joyful  heart  started  out  to  tell  the  story. 
He  had  made  many  pilgrimages  to  Budrinath,  Be- 
nares, and  elsewhere,  seeking  rest,  but  all  in  vain,  and 
now  at  last  liad  found  salvation.  During  his  baptism  a 
jpundit  and  his  disciple  came  up,  and  these,  too,  were 
convinced  of  sin  and  began  praying;  others  joined 
the  company  and  the  tent  was  surrounded  with  in- 
quirers. These  were  all  seated,  men,  women,  and 
children,  and  the  brethren  began  explaining  the 
Gospel  message :  the  hearts  of  the  people  were 
touched,  and  scores  were  at  once  baptized,  men,  women, 
and  children,  family  after  family.  All  were  baptized 
with  their  old  names,  except  the  leper,  who  went 
about  declaring  that  he  had  found  the  true  gydn 
(knowledge)  and  was  happy  in  Christ ;  he  was  given 
the  name  '  Gyan  Masih,  (one  who  knows  Christ); 
a  woman  who  was  baptized  showed  such  earnestness 
in  inviting  the  people  to  come  to  Christ  that  she 
was  named  '  Masih  Dasi '  (handmaiden  of  Christ). 
The  preachers  taught  their  new  converts  several  Hindi 
hymns,  and  these  were  sung  with  much  spirit,  while 
in  the  very  shadow  of  the  famous  temple  '  Hanu- 
man  Garhi '  (Hanuman's  Fort)  scores  were  joyously 
shouting  '  Yictory  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ ! '  ( Jai 
Prabhu  Yisu !)    The  police  looked  on  in  amazement. 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  485 

There  was  no  confusion  or  difficulty.  After  preach- 
in  o-  in  the  mela  the  brethren  invited  those  who  desired 
to  become  Christians  to  come  to  the  tent,  and  numbers 
followed  at  once,  and  after  being  instructed  and  con- 
fessing Christ  were  baptized. 

"  The  first  day  (Tuesday)  96  were  baptized ;  the 
second  (Wednesday,  the  great  day  of  the  meld)^  102 ; 
and  the  third  (Thursday),  50  ;  in  all,  248.  The  names 
of  all  were  carefully  written.  About  a  score  live  in 
Ajudhiya,  and  will  form  the  nucleus  of  a  Methodist 
Church  there  ;  others  live  in  the  surrounding  villages ; 
but  most  of  them  live  in  the  I^orth-west  Provinces, 
beyond  the  Ganges.  All  were  directed  to  make  their 
way  at  once  to  the  nearest  missionary  or  Christian 
village  and  report  themselves  as  brethren. 

"  It  is  very  significant  that  out  of  this  large  num- 
ber of  converts  the  majority  were  Brahmins  ;  nearly 
one  third  were  women  ;  one  third  were  children ; 
and  entire  families  wxre  baptized. 

"  oS^o  American  missionaries  were  present.  The 
two  native  ordained  preachers  baptized  the  converts. 
They  and  their  helpers  were  all  greatly  blessed,  and 
say  that  the  place  was  filled  with  the  presence  of  God. 
They  had  gone  with  prayer  and  were  prepared  for  the 
great  work.  They  are  among  the  best  native  preachers 
in  the  North  India  Conference,  while  Brother  Chim- 
man  Lai  is  a  beautiful  singer,"  as  well  as  a  poet  and 
musician.  He  has  written  a  number  of  hymns  which 
are  in  use  among  us,  and  is  constantly  adding  to  the 


486  FfiOM  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

number.  He  is  our  Conference  Sankey,  a  most  suc- 
cessful worker,  greatly  l)lessed  of  God.  •  On  this  oc- 
casion the  people  came  in  scores  and  listened  to  the 
singing,  joining  in  the  choruses  as  soon  as  they 
learned  them.  As  great  results  will  attend  the  sing- 
ing of  the  Gospel  in  India  as  have  in  other  lands,  and 
Methodism  has  a  great  work  liere  in  preparing  hymns 
and  popularizing  them  —  displacing  the  licentious 
songs  which,  wedded  to  beautiful  tunes,  are  sung  far 
and  wide.  With  Brother  Chimman  Lai  to  prepare 
original  hymns,  and  Brother  Isaac  Fieldbrave  to  trans- 
late Western  hymns,  and  a  press  to  publish  them  in 
the  language  spoken  by  seventy -five  millions  of  these 
people,  we  are  ready  for  the  great  opportunities  which 
are  opening  before  us. 

"  It  is  worth  remarking  that  in  January  last  a 
native  preacher  in  an  adjoining  zillah  wrote  Dr. 
Johnson,  presiding  elder  of  the  district,  asking  that 
he  might  be  appointed  to'  Ajudliiya,  as  he  felt  in  his 
heart  that  there  would  be  a  great  work  there.  This 
desire  was  entirely  spontaneous,  as  nothing  had  been 
said  to  the  man  regarding  a  preacher  being  sent  to 
Ajudliiya. 

"  The  results  of  this  pentecostal  outpouring  cannot 
be  too  highly  estimated.  Tlie  city  was  shaken,  and 
the  people  were  amazed  as  they  saw  the  scores  of 
their  own  idolatrous  'countrvmen  flockino^  to  the 
standard  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  On  the  railwa}^ 
when  the  mela  closed  and  the  people  were  departing, 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  487 

it  was  a  common  topic  of  conversation,  and  the  248 
were  multiplied  to  a  ^  thousand.' 

"  The  list  of  their  names,  with  their  ages  written,  is 
before  me  as  I  write ;  and  as  I  glance  down  the  long 
list  I  cannot  keep  from  saying  for  every  name,  for 
every  man,  woman,  boy,  and  girl :  '  Praise  God ! 
Praise  God ! '  Several  w^ere  old  men,  some  w^ere 
men  of  good  position.  These  all  promised,  on  reach- 
ing their  homes,  scattered  here  and  there  throughout 
the  provinces,  to  report  to  the  nearest  missionaries  or 
native  Christians.  We  shall  do  our  utmost  to  follow 
.them,  and  daily  pray  that  they  may  be  graciously  kept 
and  divinely  shepherded.  We  are  praying  that  this 
may  be  but  the  beginning  of  a  great  spiritual  harvest 
in  l^orth  India.  God  is  with  us,  and  our  hearts  are 
filled  with  singing.  Pray  that  the  hundreds  may 
grow  into  thousands  this  year." 

These  *'  pentecostal  days  at  Ajudhiya"  are  astonish- 
ing many  in  India,  who  have  long  labored  and  waited 
for  the  kingdom  of  God.  It  is  coming  "  with  power." 
All  the  facts  forbid  the  idea  of  there  being  insincerity 
or  superficiality  in  this  reception  of  mercy  by  these 
people,  or  in  its  free  and  cordial  offer  by  these  honored 
native  ministers.  The  cause  and  effects  were  manifest- 
ly similar  to  those  displayed  in  the  case  of  Philip  and 
the  stranger  Eunuch,  St.  Paul  and  the  Philippian 
jailer,  Cornelius  and  his  friends,  and  others  mentioned 
in  Holy  Writ.  No  higher  evidence  of  human  sin- 
cerity need  be  looked  for  than  w^hen  a  lordly  Brah- 


488  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

Ill  in  consents  to  bend  in  penitential  bumilltj  at  tlie 
feet  of  a  man  as  destitute  of  caste  as  is  Cliimman 
Lai,  and  entreats  him  to  pour  from  liis  liand  upon 
that  proud  head  the  water  which  forever  breaks  this 
Bralimin's  caste.  When,  in  addition,  this  "  aristocrat 
by  creation,"  voluntarily  and  promptly  takes  off  from 
liis  breast  the  emblem  and  outward  sign  of  his  nobility, 
and  hands  it  over,  with  his  string  of  praying  beads,  to 
the  administrator  of  the  holy  rite,  he  has  done  all  that 
man  can  do  in  India  to  prove  his  earnestness  and 
honesty.  But  on  this  occasion  there  were  127  of  these 
Brahmins  who  did  all  this,  and  that,  too,  in- public  and 
before  thousands  of  their  own  people,  who  had  hith- 
erto honored  them  as  the  clergy  caste,  and  nobility  of 
their  country !  Yes,  indeedj  such  men  must  be  sin- 
cere !  There  was  no  earthly  motive  that  could  mingle 
w^ith  that  scene.  It  was  pure  spiritual  conviction  and 
strong  desire  for  salvation  in  Christ,  and  they  found 
what  they  so  promptly  and  earnestly  sought,  and 
"  went  on  their  way  rejoicing  "  to  their  homes,  where 
they  are  now,  no  doubt,  telling  their  friends  what 
they  obtained  by  simple  faith  in  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ.  The  Church  to  whom  God  "gives  this  in- 
crease "  has  a  heavy  responsibility  to  follow  up  her 
own  success,  and  to  see  to  it  that  these  people  are 
closely  looked  after,  and  drawn  into  intimate  rela- 
tions with  the  means  of  grace,  and  "  taught  the  way 
of  God  more  perfectly." 

This  divine  manifestation  has  added  additional  and 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  4S^ 

startling  evidence  of  the  spiritual  susceptibility  of  the 
natives  of  India.  They,  indeed,  have  hearts,  and 
hearts  that  can  yield  promptly  to  the  gracious  influ- 
ences of  the  Holy  Spirit.  Perhaps  hitherto  we  have 
been  appealing  too  exclusively  to  tlieir  intellects  and 
too  little  to  their  spiritual  natures  ;  not  realizing  how 
readily  these  latter  might  yield  to  Christian  sympa- 
thy and  personal  appeal.  Commenting  upon  the  re- 
sults, the  editor  of  the  Indian  Witness  gives  ex- 
pression to  sentiments  which  intimate  ''the  gift  of 
power"  that  is  coming  upon  our  missionaries,  and  the 
glad  results  which  we  may  henceforth  look  for  in 
that  land.  His  words  may  apply  at  home  as  well  as 
in  India.     He  says : 

"  There  is  here  a  great  lesson  for  those  who  would 
win  souls  for  Christ.  It  is  unnecessnry  to  spend  in- 
genuity, and  still  less  time,  in  preparatory  courses. 
Whatever  intellectual  difficulties  an  intelligent  Hindu 
feels  in  the  way  of  accepting  Christianity,  there  is  in 
his  mind,  along  with  his  religious  speculation,  but 
distinct  from  it,  a  longing  for  spiritual  rest,  and  if 
that  be  clearly  offered  to  him  in  tlie  name  of  Christ, 
he  may  clutch  at  it  and  wait  for  the  solution  of  his 
doubts  at  another  time.  This  was  plainly  shown  by 
Mr.  Knovvles,  in  his  letter  published  recently  in  the 
Indian  Witness^  and  he  had  good  reason  to  know 
whereof  he  wrote.  Moreover,  he  confessed  freely 
that  his  faith  had  not  always  been  equal  to  that  man- 
ner of  work.     When  his  faith  was   weaker,  his  aim 


490  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

was  poorer.  The  fact  to  be  remembered  is,  that  the 
Holy  Ghost,  whose  special  office  it  is  to  convict  the 
world  of  sin,  of  righteousness,  and  of  judgment  to 
come,  has  usually  been  at  work  upon  men's  consciences 
before  they  hear  the  Gospel :  so  that  the  message  of 
salvation  falls  upon  ears  on  the  alert  for  something  of 
the  kind. 

"  The  chief  point  in  preaching  is  to  deliver  the  mes- 
sage in  full  faith  that  it  is  divinely  adapted  to  the 
cases  in  hand  and  will  be  accepted.  The  importance 
of  this  cannot  be  overestimated.  If  there  be  uncer- 
tainty in  the  preacher's  mind  as  to  the  present  efficacy 
of  the  salvation  he  offers,  that  uncertainty  will  in- 
evitably betray  itself  in  his  spirit,  and  his  hearers  will 
not  put  more  faith  in  his  message  than  he  has  in  it 
himself.  This  faith  is  the  gift  of  God.  There  is 
something  out  of  order  in  a  messenger  of  Christ  Avho 
does  his  errand  with  misgivings  about  the  result.  He 
is  doubtless  sincere,  but  his  faith  is  defective.  And 
it  is  often  a  consciousness  of  this  uncertain  grasp  of 
the  truth  that  makes  preachers  content  to  do  their 
part  in  keeping  the  gospel  machinery  going,  or  at 
most,  willing  to  hope  that  a  future  day  will  bring  a 
wave  of  success  upon  their  efforts." 

Surely  the  Church  at  home,  which  originated  this 
work,  must  now  begin  to  feel  her  heart  deeply  touched 
with  the  value  which  she  must  henceforth  attach  to 
this  enterprise,  in  view  of  the  grace  and  the  honor 
which  God  is  putting  upon  it.     She  can  now  go  to 


From*  Boston  to  Bareilly.  491 

her  missions  to  attest  her  theology,  and  gather  inspi- 
ration from  them  even  for  lier  own  home  work. 
Blessing  others  she  will  herself  be  blessed. 

There  is  another  very  important  result  that  will 
arise  out  of  this  manifestation  of  grace  which  I  would 
like  tD  draw  attention  to  before  closing  the  subject. 
And  I  find  the  point  so  well  presented  by  Dr.  Tho- 
burn,  that  I  will  borrow  a  few  sentences  from  his 
article.  Commenting  upon  this  "  JS'ew  Missionary 
Era "  which  has  dawned  upon  the  North  India  Con- 
ference, he  says : 

"For  some  years  past  we  have  steadily  maintained 
the  view  that  the  cause  of  Christian  missions  in  India 
was  about  to  enter  upon  a  new  era.  Much  had  been 
done  in  the  past,  but  the  work  had,  for  the  most  part, 
been  carried  on  within  narrow  lines.  The  massive 
force  of  Hinduism  had  never  been  broken,  and  con- 
verts from  Islam  had  been  gathered  in  by  twos  and 
threes,  bat  never  in  such  numbers  as  to  break  the 
Mohammedan  ranks  at  any  one  point.  Tlie  only  ex- 
ception to  this  remark,  we  believe,  was  in  Bengal, 
where  some  years  ago  a  large  community  of  Moham- 
medans embraced  the  Christian  faith  ;  but  these  peo- 
ple were  hardly  orthodox  Mohammedans,  and  would 
not  have  been  accepted  as  such  in  North  India.  The 
Brahmin  lines,  however,  had  never  been  broken. 
Here  and  there  one,  two,  or  three  converts  had  been 
gathered  in  from  the  Brahmin  and  higher  castes,  but 
we  think  we  are  correct — and  we  hope  to  be  put 


492  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

riglit  if  mistaken — in  saying  that  never  in  the  his- 
tory of  missions  in  India  has  any  considerable  "nnm- 
ber  of  Brahmins  been  baptized  in  a  body.  Tlie 
unconditional  acceptance  of  Christianity  on  a  Isew 
Testament  basis  has  as  yet  been  confined  to  isolated 
converts  from  the  higher  castes. 

"The  recent  baptisms  at  the  Ajndhiya  mela  put  a 
new  phase  upon  this  peculiar  feature  of  mission  work 
in  India.  In  all  two  hundred  and  forty-eight  persons 
were  baptized,  '  the  majority  of  whom  were  Brah- 
mins.' The  significance  of  this  statement  can  hardly 
be  overestimated.  One  man's  soul  is,  of  course, 
worth  no  more  than  another's,  and  a  Brahmin  stands 
no  higher  in  God's  sight  than  a  sweeper;  but  the 
Brahmins  have  been  hedged  about  in  such  a  way  that 
it  has  seemed  next  to  impossible  to  reach  them ;  and 
it  is  a  cause  of  rejoicing  that  access  to  them  at  last 
seems  to  have  been  gained,  and  that  their  hearts  are 
as  open  to  receive  the  word  of  life  as  the  hearts  of 
the  people  of  lower  castes. 

"  We  cannot  believe  that  this  extraordinary  move- 
ment in  the  Ajudhiya  mela  will  end  with  the  disper- 
sion of  the  people  who  attended  the  fair.  A  hundred 
thousand  busy  tongues  will  tell  the  story  over  and 
over  again,  and  by  this  time  it  is  known  to  ten  mill- 
ions of  people  in  Xorth  India  that  Brahmins  and 
other  high-caste  people  are  accepting  Christianity 
freely.  The  effect  of  this  will  be  to  break  the  spell 
which  has  so  long  held  the  mass  of  the  people.     It  is 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  493 

popularly  believed  that  Christianity  is  only  adapted 
to  low-caste  people,  and  that. Brahmins  are  clad  in  an 
armor  of  social  and  religious  sanctity  which  makes 
them  invulnerable  against  the  Christian  preacher.  It 
avails  little  to  poini;  to  one  or  two  Brahmin  converts 
among  the  Christian  preachers.  The  fact  that  they 
are  so  few  in  number  seems  only  to  coniirm  the  people 
in  their  notion  of  the  general  rule,  and  they  rest  qui- 
etly in  the  conviction  that  a  religion  which  cannot 
reach  the  Brahmins  must  be  inferior  to  that  which  the 
Brahmins  profess.  A  few  more  occurrences  like  this, 
and  this  notion  will  be  dispelled  forever.  The  peo- 
ple will  see,  and  quickly  realize,  that  a  power  greater 
than  Brahminism  is  at  work  in  their  midst,  and  how- 
ever reluctant  they  may  be  to  accept  the  Christian 
religion,  they  will  begin  to  regard  it  with  a  respect, 
a  reverence,  which  they  have  never  known  before." 

At  another  mela  since  held,  at  Mahmad  Gunge, 
twenty-five  more  persons  of  the  same  classes  were 
baptized ;  and  tliere  are  other  recent  instances  which 
I  might  quote,  so  that  already  it  would  seem  a 
larger  number  have  been  added  to  the  Church  there 
within  four  months  since  Conference  than  have  been 
added  in  any  whole  year  in  the  history  of  the  mis- 
sion. They  are  evidently  entering  upon  times  of 
great  power — "years  of  the  right  hand  of  the  Most 
High  ;"  and  it  behooves  our  Church  now  to  re-enforce 
her  work,  and,  pushing  the  battle  to  the  very  gate, 
capture  India  for  Christ  as  fast  as  she  possibly  can. 


494  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

"What  an  evidence  of  this  increasing  power  was  the 
dedication,  in  the  fall  of  1885,  of  our  new  church  in 
the  city  of  Cawnpore !  Situated  in  the  center  of 
the  city,  this  beautiful  church — the  largest  and  most 
complete  native  church  in  Xorth  India — was  dedi- 
cated to  the  worship  of  God  amid  circumstances  of 
the  most  encouraging  character.  Here,  where  the 
blood  of  several  hundred  Christian  people  was  shed 
amid  scenes  of  unparalleled  cruelty  by  the  ]N^ana  Sa- 
hib, in  1857,  Methodism  has  erected  a  Christian 
church  that  is  a  joy  to  look  at ;  complete  in  all  re- 
spects, with  its  tower  and  bell  and  clock,  and  school 
building  attached.  The  people  of  the  city  manifested 
a  lively  interest  in  the  enterprise,  and  even  a  few 
Hindus  offered  to  subscribe  toward  its  erection.  On 
the  day  of  its  dedication  the  edifice  was  crowded  to 
its  utmost  capacity,  about  twelve  hundred  persons 
being  present.  Such  was  the  interest  which  the 
event  excited  that  several  zenana  ladies  came  in  their 
palankeens  to  attend  the  service,  a  part  of  the  gallery 
having  been  curtained  off  for  their  sjjecial  use,  where 
they  could  see  and  hear  without  being  themselves 
seen !  And  this  in  Cawnpore,  where  those  beloved 
Presbyterian  bretln-en  and  sisters,  and  hundreds  of 
others  with  them,  endured  the  most  cruel  martyrdom 
for  the  Lord  Jesus  known  since  the  days  of  Xero  and 
Caligula  !  Yes,  even  here,  "  the  blood  of  the  martyrs 
is  the  seed  of  the  Church !  "  But  it  is  the  glorious 
future  that  is  thus  intimated,  of  which  I  think,  as  I 


From  Boston  to  Bareillt.  495 

read  with  surjirise  and  joj  of  the  present  events  at 
Ajudhija  and  Cawnpore.  This  is  only  the  dawn ;  but 
what  a  day  it  is  ushering  in  for  poor  India,  when  her 
"  sun  shall  no  more  go  down ;  neither  shall "  her 
"  moon  withdraw  itself :  for  the  Lord  shjill  be "  her 
"everlasting  light,  and  the  days  of"  her  "mourning 
shall  be  ended  ! " 

Her  candid  and  intelligent  visitors  all  alike  recog- 
nize in  the  present  success  the  intimations  of  this 
coming  gl^ry.  The  last,  and  one  of  the  most  compe- 
tent of  these  visitors,  expressed  his  delight  and  antici- 
pations at  the  opening  session  of  the  North  India 
Conference  in  Bareilly,  January  7, 1885.  From  a  ver- 
hatim  report  by  one  of  the  missionaries  of  Bishop 
Hui'st's  address  on  that  occasion,  I  take  the  following 
portion.     The  Bishop  said  : 

"  I  come  to  you,  dear  brethren,  bringing  the  salu- 
tations of  the  Church  at  home.  When  doubtful 
missionary  fields  are  spoken  of  at  home  we  think  of 
various  countries,  but  never  of  India.  The  work  here 
is,  beyond  a  doubt,  successful.  I  have  now  been  in 
India  two  months,  examining  the  work  of  our  Church. 
I  think  it  would  take  more  than  two  years  to  see  it 
all  and  see  it  w^ell.  I  wish  I  could  be  here  a  year — 
and  that  would  be  too  short  a  time  to  satisfy  my  own 
wishes. 

"  I  am  pleased  with  all  I  have  seen  of  India  Meth- 
odism. The  work  is  infinitely  beyond  what  I  expected 
to  find.     I  was  not  uninformed  ;  I  have  read  various 


496  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

books  on  India,  as  well  as  all  tliat  has  appeared  in  the 
public  prints,  and  your  letters  in  our  various  Advo- 
cates /  but  I  was  not  prepared  for  what  I  see.  I  lind 
a  surprise  every  hour.     Some  things  I  am  amazed  at : 

"1.  Your  choice  of  church  property.  Every -where 
you  have  bought  wisely,  beautifully,  and  it  is  very 
evident  that  you  have  bought  to  stay.  Your  build- 
ings are  well  located  ;  I  am  not  surprised  that  it  is  so 
here  in  Bareilly  where  we  have  met ;  we  have  this 
beautiful  church ;  just  yonder  the  Remington  Hall, 
the  home  of  your  theological  seminary ;  across  the 
way  your  Girls'  Orphanage.     So  it  is  in  other  cities. 

"  2.  Your  schools  are  prospering.  In  New  En- 
gland the  spring  sun  calls  out  the  life  and  beauty  of 
the  vegetable  world — the  sturdy  oak,  the  budding, 
leafing  tree,  the  beautiful  rose — all  forms  of  life  are 
developed  by  the  genial  sun ;  so  here,  you  have  not 
only  churches,  but  schools  for  boys  and  for  girls ;  you 
have  Orphanages  as  well,  and  thus  the  light  of  the 
Gospel  brings  life  and  development  in  many  varied 
ways. 

"  3.  Your  publishing  interests  are  well  cared  for 
and  full  of  promise.  This  gives  great  reason  for  re- 
joicing. I  recognize  this  as  a  very  important  depart- 
ment. Here,  as  elsewhere,  our  Church  has  not  been 
able  to  utilize  the  books  by  others,  and  you  have  had 
to  create  your  own  literature,  as  you  will  have  to  do 
in  the  future. 

"  We  have  met  to-day  for  our  Conference  session 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bakeilly.  497 

— brought,  many  of  us,  thousands  of  miles,  in  peace 
and  safety  to  this  place.  Blessed  be  God  for  his 
abounding  mercies!  The  eyes  of  the  whole  Church 
are  upon  you ;  your  names  are  familiar  in  America. 
In  the  company  before  me  are  those  who  have  been 
away  from  you  for  a  time,  now  with  you  again,  glad 
to  be  here.  I  have  read  about  the  Corsican,  how  the 
fragrance  of  the  flowers  of  his  native  land  so  gets 
into  his  nature  that  wherever  he  goes  this  fragrance 
tells  his  presence  and  his  nationality  ;  so  it  seems  to 
me  it  is  with  India  missionaries  at  home  on  furlough ; 
they  do  not  call  America  home ;  their  thoughts  go 
back  to  this  distant  land ;  they  are  restless,  and  are 
never  at  home  until  they  land  in  India.  It  is  this 
perfect  enthusiasm  in  your  work  which  makes  you 
successful. 

"  Tliis  work  of  yours  is  a  glorious  one.  People  all 
about  you  have  sprung  into  beautiful  lives  through 
your  efforts,  and  many  who  are  in  heaven  to-day  are 
the  fruit  of  your  labor.  'No  mission  has  in  fuller 
measure  the  confidence  of  the  Church  than  yours. 

"We  shall  have  a  grand  future  in  India.     You 

have  many  forms  of  error  to  meet  and  overcome.     I 

am  amazed  at  the  bravery  of  soul  with  which  you  are 

attacking  these.     If  you  seek  for  heroism,  you  do  not 

need  to  go  yonder  to  the  Lucknow  Kesidency,  where 

Havelock  fought  and  Lawrence  fell ;  you  will  find  it 

in  tlie  men  and  women  who  to  dav  are  battlinir  asrainst 

error  in  the  many  mission  fields  of  India.     You  have 
82 


408  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

gone  to  work  to  meet  the  questions  of  to-day  with 
great  faith  and  courage.  We  believe  the  future  will 
be  grander  even  than  the  past. 

"  Tlie  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society  has 
won  great  laurels  in  India,  as  elsewhere.  With  its 
'  first  decade '  we  are  all  familiar  ;  the  second  decade 
will  be  brighter  still.  I  am  glad  to  see  so  many  of 
the  workers  of  this  Society  here  to-day — so  many  fresh 
from  America,  earnest,  consecrated  ladies,  who  have 
crossed  three  seas  and  one  ocean  to  take  their  places 
in  your  midst.  May  God  bless  them ;  and  may  his 
richest  blessings  rest  upon  the  noble  women  at  home, 
whose  helping  hands  reach  across  tliese  seas  to  touch 
and  save  the  heathen  women  of  India  ! " 

Nothing  more  need  be  added  to  this  to  show  the 
Church  the  value  and  opening  prospects  of  her  pre- 
cious work  in  that  wonderful  land  '  save  the  Bishop's 
own  words,  written  in  Europe  on  his  return  from  In- 
dia, showing  the  full  result  of  liis  reflections  upon 
what  he  had  witnessed  there.  It  was  written  to  the 
Missionary  Secretaries  and  the  Board,  and  was  by 
them  printed  in  a  circular  and  sent  out  to  the  Chuich. 
Bishop  Hurst  says  :  "  If  from  all  the  lands  where  our 
people  are  now  singing  centennial  psalms  our  Church 
were  suddenly  blotted  out,  there  is  aggressive  force 
in  India  Methodism  alone  to  sail  to  all  the  continents 
and  plant  it  over  again." 

This  is  enough.  Xo  more  appreciation  need  be  de- 
sired.    The  climax  was  reached  when  tliese  words 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  499 

were  written.  As  the  liumble  founder  of  the  North 
India  Mission,  I  pause  here  to  recognize  gratefully  the 
infinite  mercy  of  God  that  has  been  over  me  and  my 
work  from  its  inception  to  this  glad  hour.  I  may 
now  be  indulged,  at  this  point,  with  a  few  candid  and 
grateful  reminiscences  regarding  my  own  relation  to 
that  work,  without  any  liability,  I  hope,  of  being 
misunderstood. 

In  doing  this  I  may,  perhaps,  seem,  in  the  apostle's 
sense,  to  '^  speak  as  a  fool,"  but  surely  I  may  be  borne 
with  in  doing  so.  This  glorious  birth  of  spiritual 
good  was  not  accomplished  without  a  travail  of  soul 
corresponding  to  its  importance  and  value,  and  in 
this  my  own  heart  has  had  its  prominent  share.  I 
appreciate  the  self- forge tfulness  in  the  quotation, 

"  'Tis  magnanimity  to  hide  the  wound ;  " 

and  who  that  is  heroic  would  do  otherwise  on  the 
iield  of  battle  ?  But  the  conflict  is  over,  and,  amid 
the  joy  of  the  victory  which  we  now  experience, 
reminiscences  to  the  honor  of  supporting  grace  may 
be  appropriate.  So  St.  Paul  thought,  when  he  enu- 
merated his  own  grand  endurances,  and  declared  that 
he  wore  his  scars  as  badges  of  sacred  honor,  and  glo- 
ried in  his  sufferings  for  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

It  is  well  we  do  not  know  in  advance  the  toil  and 
trials  which  we  are  to  meet  in  our  path  of  duty.  God 
wisely  hides  from  our  eyes  what  might  discourage,  and 
calls  us  to  walk  by  faith,  leaning  on  him  alone  for 


500  From  Boston  to  Baeeilly. 

support  and  guidance.  What  a  list  of  discourage- 
ments 7night  have  been  put  into  our  hands,  bj  some 
foreseeing  power,  on  the  day  when  we  stepped  on 
board  that  steam-ship,  in  Boston  liarbor,  in  1856  ! 
Our  hearts  were  yearning  for  the  two  dear  boys  we 
liad  then  to  leave  behind ;  and  here  that  list  might 
have  begun  its  discouraging  enumeration,  and  said  to 
us :  "  That  oldest  boy  you  are  never  to  see  again,  for 
he  will  die  in  your  absence  ;  two  more  of  your  pre- 
cious ones  you  will  leave  behind  in  India  when  your 
work  is  done,  and  you  will  also  have  to  bury  the 
fourth  one  in  his  young  manhood  in  a  Mexican  cem- 
etery, so  that  their  graves  will  be  twelve  thousand 
miles  asunder  !  You  will  go  straight  with  your  dear 
ones  almost  into  the  jaws  of  death,  and  have  to  pass 
through  the  greatest  emergency  civilization  has  ever 
known  on  the  Eastern  hemisphere.  For  fifteen  months 
you  will  be  exposed  "in  peril  among  the  heathen  and 
in  the  wilderness,"  standing  in  jeopardy  every  hour, 
and  will  be  given  up  as  dead.  When  you  come  forth 
from  that  circle  of  fire,  keen  sufferings  will  await  you. 
The  Asiatic  cholera  and  the  sun-stroke,  oi3hthalmia 
and  other  ailments,  will  in  succession  bring  you  again 
into  the  very  presence  of  death,  and  almost  close 
your  career.  Then,  when  emerging  from  these,  your 
hardest  toil  and  heaviest  responsibilities  will  be  only 
beginning,  in  laying  out,  developing,  and  providing 
for  the  extensive  work  of  God  which  you  are  expected 
to  found  and  superintend  in  that  land.     Nearly  one 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  501 

hundred  agents  in  the  field  will  have  to  be  helped  and 
satisfied  in  their  work  ;  and  while  carrying  this  care 
and  toil  those  who  sent  you  will  sometimes  seem  to 
fail  you,  so  that  you  will  be  criticized  and  even 
checked,  because  you  appear  to  them  to  be  going  too 
fast,  or  to  have  taken  too  extensive  a  field  to  occupy, 
and  for  requiring  so  large  a  portion  of  the  Churcirs 
funds  for  its  cultivation.  Your  soul  will  mourn  when 
you  find  you  cannot  please  every  one  concerned — all 
in  the  field  and  all  at  home — till  your  nights  become 
sleepless,  and  head  and  heart  will  ache  because  you 
will  fear  that  your  extensive  plans  of  work  are  not 
understood  or  adequately  appreciated.  The  keenest  of 
these  heart-aches  will  be  w^hen  the  limited  liberality 
of  the  Church  leads  the  authorities  at  home  to  restrain 
your  action  and  curtail  your  work  in  tlie  presence  of 
millions  of  dying  men  whom  your  soul  will  yearn  to 
save ! " 

This  is  only  a  part  of  what  might  be  enumerated, 
and  is  all  sober  truth,  without  a  word  of  exaggeration. 
Only  God  himself  knows  the  solicitude  which  this 
one  poor,  weak  heart,  held  to  such  responsibility,  car- 
ried for  this  blessed  cause  ;  while  back  of  it  all  laj^  the 
consideration  that  1  was  only  "  a  stranger  and  foreign- 
er," doing  this  work  for  my  adopted  Church  and 
country,  and  realizing  that  it  became  me  modestly  to 
avoid,  lest  I  should  be  misunderstood,  the  self-assertioa 
which  a  native  American  might  suitably  assume  under 
such  responsibilities.     I  say  not  this  because  of  any 


502  Feom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

reason  given  me  to  doubt  their  consideration  for  me 
and  the  office  I  held  under  these  circumstances.  'No, 
indeed ;  mj  dear  brethren  in  the  field  were  consider- 
ate, and  even  magnanimous  toward  me,  and  these 
pages  contain  abundant  proof  that  I  was  fully  aware 
of  it,  and  loved  them  for  their  honorable  bearing  to- 
ward me  from  first  to  last — from  1858  to  1884. 

My  entire  reference  is  known  to  God  alone,  who 
saw  my  solicitude  and  how  profoundly  I  respected  the 
authorities  who  had  commissioned  me,  as  well  as  my 
earnest  desire  to  bear  conscientiously  the  responsibil- 
ities which  they  had  laid  upon  me.  But  I  never  for- 
got that  in  all  this  I  was  not  serving  man,  but  God, 
and  that  to  him  I  should  have  to  answer  in  the  judg- 
ment day  for  the  appreciation  and  use  of  the  great  op- 
portunity. I  felt  then — and  feel  to-day  more  fully — 
that  he  had  called  me  to  this  great  work,  and  would 
go  with  me  to  it,  and  be  with  me  in  it,  removing  the 
impediments  from  my  path  and  sustaining  me  till  that 
work  was  done.  The  farther  I  went  in  that  line  of 
duty  the  more  convinced  I  became  of  the  divine  guid- 
ance and  purpose.  When  I  reached  the  Gangetic 
Yalley,  and  saw  that  preventing  power  removed,  God 
seemed  to  say  to  me,  ''  I  have  set  before  thee  an  open 
door,  and  no  man  can  shut  it."  That  door  was,  in- 
deed, "  wide  and  effectual,"  and  my  plans  had  to  con- 
form themselves  to  the  circumstances  of  that  magnifi- 
cent valley  and  its  twenty  millions  of  souls.  I  realized 
strongly  that  the  Almighty  knew  the  ability,  present 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  503 

and  prospective,  of  the  Church  which  I  represented, 
and  that  in  calling  her  to  India  (where  one  sixth  of 
our  race  was  to  be  affected  by  her  presence)  he  evi- 
dently did  not  intend  that  she  should  be  represented 
there  by  a  little  puny  mission  that  in  a  hundred  years 
of  labor  could  not  reach  the  heart  of  India  and  touch 
it  for  Christ. 

The  Board,  the  General  Committee,  and  even  the 
Corresponding  Secretary  might  look  serious,  and  even 
hesitate  about  assuming  such  an  obligation  as  this  was 
to  be — for  faith  then  was  weaker  and  less  intelligent 
than  it  is  to-day.  But  God  was  pressing  us  up  to  the 
duty  which  we  had  to  fulfill  for  him.  So,  all  parties 
— the  superintendent  included — were  alike  carried 
beyond  themselves,  and  their  first  small  plans,  out 
into  purposes  and  opportunities  that  were  worthy  of 
the  great  work  to  which  "  the  Lord  of  the  harvest " 
was  calling  them.  What  wonderful  reading  now  is 
that  voluminous  correspondence  upon  this  subject. 
How  I  was  cautioned  and  instructed — sometimes  al- 
most censured.  But  the  help  I  developed  from  those 
generous  English  friends — who  caught  the  enthusiasm 
of  our  extensive  plans — and  my  own  pleadings,  encour- 
aged the  Corresponding  Secretary  and  the  Board,  so 
that  they  kindly  (though  often  reluctantly)  allowed 
me  to  have  my  own  way.  Meanwhile  the  Church, 
seeing  what  was  being  done,  responded  with  increas- 
ing liberality  for  her  share,  and  the  finances  rose,  year 
by  year,  to  the  height  required,  and  good  Dr.  Dnrbin 


504  Fkom  Boston  to  Baretlly. 

stood  by  me  to  the  last.  His  hopes  were  fulfilled,  and 
one  of  the  greatest  joys  of  his  life  was  realized  when 
the  mission  to  India  rose  to  the  dignity  of  an  Annual 
Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  ! 

What  else  could  I  do  than  what  I  did  ?  There  be- 
fore me  lay  a  sight  which  the  Secretary  and  the 
Church  could  only  hear  of — the  plenteous  harvest  of 
unsaved  humanity,  20,000,000  in  number,  within  our 
own  field ;  while  "  the  Lord  of  the  harvest "  was 
calling  for  "more  laborers,"  and  Bishop  Simpson's 
words  were  ringing  in  my  memory,  "  Brother  Butler, 
lay  deep  and  broad  foundations  for  Methodism  in  In- 
dia ! "  O,  I  thank  God  my  faith  and  courage  did  not 
fail  me  ;  not  for  a  moment,  even  amid  the  hot  fires 
of  1857,  or  when  Dr.  Durbin  (awe-struck  with  the 
carnage)  wrote  and  gave  me  full  leave  to  reconsider 
the  field  I  had  chosen,  and  change  it  for  another,  if, 
on  reflection,  I  thought  I  had  selected  one  too  hard  to 
be  a  safe  position  for  doing  mission  work.  I  am  equal- 
ly grateful  that  I  did  not  flinch  under  the  pressure  of 
the_ timid  counsels  and  opinions  of  some  who  thought 
I  should  do  better  by  adopting  their  limited  views  of 
the  work  and  how  it  was  to  be  laid  out. 

No ;  my  Letter  of  Instructions  defined  my  respon- 
sibility, and  conceded  to  me  a  large  discretion  in 
meeting  the  great  opportunity  for  our  Church.  God 
was  with  me  every  hour,  and  my  trust  in  his  guidance 
was  simple,  but  immeasurable ;  so  I  stood  up  to  the 
duty  laid  upon  me,  and  had  neither  fear  nor  doubt, 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  505 

Who  now  regrets  that  I  took  counsel  of  my  faith  and 
assumed  the  full  responsibility  of  my  commission, 
throwing  upon  my  Church  the  onus  of  cultivating 
that  grand  field  which  I  had  selected  for  her,  honor- 
ins:  her  in  doinor  so  ?  I  do  not ;  but  shall  o-o  down  to 
the  grave  grateful  that  to  me  was  given  the  opportu- 
nity of  committing  her  to  its  cultivation.  Nor  does 
any  of  my  brethren  amid  our  extending  work  in  India, 
where  they  rejoice  in  the  field  which  they  occupy, 
and  in  the  hopeful  race  whom  they  are  evangeliz- 
ino^.  Nor  does  Dr.  Durbin  in  heaven,  nor  our  livino^ 
Church  to-day,  nor  the  adorable  Head  of  the  Church 
himself.  Our  denomination  is  surely  richer  for  what 
she  has  done  for  India,  and  is  all  the  better  prepared 
to  accomplish  the  work  to  which  our  fathers'  God  is 
leading  her  onward.  The  help  of  a  Church  of  such 
resources  means  much  to  him  in  the  realization  of  his 
promise  to  liis  Son :  "  I  shall  give  thee  the  heathen 
for  thine  inheritance,  and  the  uttermost  parts  of  the 
earth  for  thy  possession." 

So  here  I  stand,  and  take  this  look  over  all  the 
way  which  this  book  records,  and  the  path  along 
^'hich  God  has  led  us.  Wliatever  it  may  have  in- 
volved to  us  of  solicitude,  or  bereavement,  or  trial,  I 
see  now  that  all  was  for  the  best.  I  would  not  change 
a  single  fact,  nor  ask  exemption  from  any  pain  of 
mind  or  body  which  the  duty  involved.  The  close 
of  the  quarter-century  has  explained  and  glorified  it 
all;  and  now,  beyond  former  experience,  I  know  the 


506  From  Boston  to  Bakeilly. 

outcome  in  which  what  we  call  mysterious  providen- 
ces can  terminate,  and  the  meaning  of  the  lines : 

"  Who  shall  so  forecast  the  years, 
And  find  in  loss  a  gain  to  match, 
Or  reach  a  hand  through  time  to  catch 

Tlie  far-off  interest  of  tears  ?  " 

Gladly  would  I  go  through  it  all  again,  and  far 
more,  if  God  so  w^illed,  to  accomplish  the  same 
results,  even  with  full  knowledge  in  advance  of  what 
it  would  cost  the  heart  in  the  way  of  endurance. 
The  discipline  and  sorrow  which  duty  often  involves 
work  out  the  highest  results  to  those  who  are  exer- 
cised thereby.  The  personal  benefits  acquired  by 
sanctified  trial,  has  led  multitudes  of  God's  faithful 
ones  to  know  forever : 

"  Amid  my  list  of  blessings  infinite 

Stands  this  the  foremost,  that  my  heart  has  bled; 

For  all  I  tliank  thee,  most  for  the  severe." 

Our  Saviour  was  made  perfect  by  suffering,  and  we 
may  be,  and  find  at  last  our  life-work  all  the  dearer 
to  us  for  every  care  and  toil  that  it  cost  us  here 
below.  * 

Such  were  the  reflections  that  filled  my  heart  as 
I  crossed  the  Ganges  in  1883,  and  recalled  the 
emotions  which  moved  my  soul  at  the  same  crossing 
in  December,  1856.  I  was  then  a  stranger,  without 
a  welcome,  and  all  was  dark  and  forbidding.  But 
here  I  was  joyously  reminded  of  the  patriarch's  glad 


From  Boston  to  Bareilly.  507 

reflection  :  '*'  With  my  staff  I  crossed  over  this  Jor- 
dan, and  now  I  am  become  two  bands!"  The  long 
years  of  toil  and  anxiety  liad  been  crowned,  and  thou- 
sands of  grateful  and  loving  Christian  hearts  in  that 
valley  were  now  waiting  to  welcome  us !  O,  w^onder- 
ful  change  !  I  remembered  Dr.  Reid's  words  at  the 
farewell  meeting  in  JN^ew  York,  the  night  before 
we  sailed  on  this  voyage,  and  realized  how  true  to 
the  sentiments  of  my  heart  they  were :  *'  I  would 
rather  found  a  mission  than  found  an  empire."  What 
hallowed  compensation,  for  any  toil  and  sacrifice,  have 
we  received  !    So, 

"After  all  my  wanderings  through  this  world  of  care, 
And  all  my  griefs,  and  God  has  given  me  my  share," 

I  bless  him  that  T  have  lived  to  see  this  day,  and 
to  look  upon  these  glad  results !  My  heart  bowed 
before  him  in  adoration  as  I  there  recalled  Dr.  Dur- 
bin's  words,  written  to  strengthen  me,  in  April,  1856, 
when  he  sympathized  with  our  lonely  and  unsus- 
tained  position,  and  said  :  "  Be  of  good  courage,  and 
let  those  yet  to  come  say,  '  William  Butler  founded 
this  mission.'  "  Amen  !  and,  again,  to  God  be  all  the 
glory ! 

Poor  India !  A  few  more  words  about  her  before 
I  terminate  this  book.  She  is  to-day  the  most  awful 
example  on  earth  of  the  damnable  nature  of  idolatry. 
There  is  a  land  which  is  one  of  the  garden  spots  of 
this  globe  ;  a  land  with  a  history  running  back  for 


508  From  Boston  to  Bareillx-. 

four  thousand  years,  having  boundless  wealth,  and  a 
sixth  of  the  world's  population  within  her  borders. 
She  was  in  her  splendor  when  our  forefathers  were 
half-naked  savages  in  English  forests.  Her  scholars 
were  then  writing  her  great  epics,  and  calculating 
eclipses.  Hundreds  of  years  before  the  Incarnation 
the  fame  of  her  greatness  had  reached  the  court  of 
Solomon,  and  he  borrowed  some  of  her  superfluities 
to  increase  the  "  glory  "  of  his  capital.  But  she  has 
taken  a  long  departure  from  the  religious  simplicity 
of  those  times,  and  is  to-day  the  head  and  highest 
example  of  the  world's  idolatry.  In  the  greatness  of 
her  guilt  and  folly  she  lias  wandered  so  far  from  the 
original  righteousness  of  a  belief  in  the  unity  of 
God,  that  she  has  multiplied  her  deities  until  her 
"learned  Pundits"  are  said  to  declare  that  their  Pan- 
theon contains  330,000,000  of  them !  Every  one  of 
these  she  has  invented.  The  Lord  rebuked  Israel  be- 
cause their  gods  had  become  at  last  as  numerous  as 

* 
their  cities.     What,  then,  must  he,  the  jealous  God, 

"  who  will  not  give  his  glory  to  another,  or  his  praise 
to  graven  images,"  think  of  India,  a  country  which, 
according  to  this  preposterous  enumeration,  has  a 
god  and  a  half  for  every  Hindu  in  the  land !  The 
recent  census  shows  that  her  shrines  are  served  by 
601,164  heathen  priests.  So  tliat  there  is  a  Brahmin 
priest  for  every  three  hundred  and  thirty  persons  of 
that  population !  Every  god  she  has  added,  and 
every  additional  priest  slie  accepted,   has  deepened 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  509 

her  debasement,  and  taken  her  farther  away  from 
truth  and  righteousness.  Modern  Hinduism  is  far 
more  degrading  than  was  the  ancient  form.  The  old 
gods  of  the  Yedic  times  (who  have  been  forsaken  for 
the  modern  monstrosities)  had  some  respectability  of 
character  about  them,  but  the  deities  of  to-day  have 
sunk  the  nation  so  low  that  it  was  "perishing  in  its 
own  corruption  "  when  the  Gospel  of  Christ  entered 
the  land,  and  began,  by  missionary  teaching  and 
Christian  law,  to  arrest  the  dreadful  downward  tend- 
ency. 

The  record  is  atrocious.  Idolatry  was  fully  justify- 
ing, by  its  matchless  cruelty,  the  Lord  Jehovah's  de- 
nunciation of  it.  For  under  the  sanction  of  gods  and 
goddesses,  who  were  deified  Thugs,  and  delighted  in 
human  blood,  even  helpless  female  infancy  was  re- 
morsely  sacrificed,  and  tens  of  thousands  of  beautiful 
women  were  immolated  in  their  suttees  in  honor  of 
these  "  divine  "  monsters.  The  clergy  of  India — its 
Brahmin  priesthood — instead  of  protesting,  gave  the 
system  their  fullest  sanction,  urging  on  the  devilish 
crimes,  and  putting  the  golden  gains  derived  from 
them  into  their  hungry  purses. 

In  this  deep  departure  from  truth  and  holiness  the 
men  and  the  women  of  India  are  more  degraded  than 
any  other  heathen  by  the  popular  objects  of  their 
adoration,  for  they  have  sunk  so  low  that  they  are 
groveling  before  idols  as  preposterous  as  a  monkey- 
god,  and  worshiping  symbols  of  sensuality  which  de- 


610  From  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

cencj  forbids  to  be  named.  Poor,  deluded,  misguided 
souls !  how  much  tliej  need  our  Christian  pity  and  help 
to  aid  them,  so  "  that  tliey  may  recover  themselves 
out  of  the  snare  of  the  devil,  who  are  taken  captive  by 
him  at  his  will." 

Perhaps  no  human  mind  this  side  of  eternity  can 
form  an  adequate  conception  of  ilndfearfnl  cpailt  and 
debasing  effects  of  tlie  sin  of  idolatry.  In  its  mental 
and  material  manifestations  it  is  the  crime  of  criuies 
— the  prolific  parent  of  selfishness,  licentiousness,  and 
denial  of  God.  ]^o  wonder  the  Lord  Almighty  pro- 
nounces the  heaviest  maledictions  of  his  holy  law 
against  this  crime,  and  declares  that  no  "  idolater  hath 
any  inheritance  in  the  kingdom  of  Christ  and  of  God." 
Heaven  is  closed  against  all  such. 

Here,  then,  is  our  obligation — to  save  India  from 
this  fearful  guilt,  which  is  the  cause  of  all  her  woe 
and  sorrow,  and  turn  her  from  her  "  dumb  idols,  to 
serve  the  living  God."  Glorious  mission  !  Honored 
forever  will  be  the  men  and  the  women  who  are  en- 
gaged in  working  out  her  redemption,  and  upon  all 
who  help  and  sympathize  with  them  in  their  blessed 
toil.  She  can  be  redeemed.  Already  her  salvation 
has  commenced,  and  they  have  begun  to  "  cast  their 
idols  to  the  moles  and  to  the  bats,"  and  the  blessed 
Christ  is  receiving  them  graciously,  and  saving  their 
souls.  Church  of  God,  press  on  the  work  !  India 
is  a  glorious  prize  to  win  from  the  kingdom  of  dark- 
ness.    The  overthrow  of  her  colossal  and  organized 


Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly.  611 

heathen  ism  would  be  the  knell  of  doom  to  every  other 
"  false  god"  upon  this  earth.  The  Hindu  Pantheon, 
with  its  millions  of  "  abominable  idolatries,"  w^ould 
carry  down  in  its  ruin  the  polytheism  of  all  Asia. 
That  overthrow,  when  it  comes,  will  realize  to  the 
'  heart  of  Christendom  a  thrill  of  victory  more  full  and 
ecstatic  than  that  heart  has  ever  felt  before.  Heaven 
and  earth  will  unite  to  celebrate  this  matchless  fact  of 
the  Redeemer's  triumph  over  the  prostrate  heathen- 
ism of  the  world.  Long  ago  it  was  foretold  that  "  the 
idols  he  shall  utterly  abolish,"  the  hundreds  of  mill- 
ions of  those  in  India  included.  Then  will  have  come 
the  glad  hour  when 

"  To  adorn  the  worsliip  of  the  One 
A  universe  of  gods  has  passed  away," 

and  "  the  Lord  alone  shall  be  exalted  in  the  earth." 
Christian  India!  Redeemed  at  last  from  the  sins 
and  wrongs  and  sufferings  which  idolatry  imposed 
upon  her,  and  radiant  then  with  all  the  graces  and 
peace  and  joy  of  our  holy  faith  !  It  seems  to  me 
as  though  the  devoted  missionaries  who  have  toiled 
for  this  consummation,  "  but  died  without  the  sight," 
would  want  to  rise  from  the  dead  to  behold  this  high- 
est triumph  of  Onmipotent  grace.  "  The  heart  of 
Asia"  will  have  been  won  for  Christ,  her  adorable 
Lord  and  Master ;  whom  no  doubt  she  will  henceforth 
serve  with  an  ardor  wortliy  of  those  who  have  had 
"  much  forgiven,"  while  her  vast  resources  will  be  laid 


512  Fkom  Boston  to  Bareilly. 

at  liis  feet,  and  her  part  in  spreading  his  glory  in  the 
earth  be  worthily  done.  Some  one  has  anticipated 
that  "  day  of  days  "  in  lines  which  I  quote  as  I  close : 

"  No  longer  bestial,  but  in  queenly  mold, 

Beauteous  in  needle-work  and  woven  gold, 

All  Orient  riches  set  on  her  large  brow. 

And  from  her  lips  sweet  song  and  lioly  vow; 

Her  sandaled  foot  and  life-enkindling  hand, 

Known  by  fair  traces  on  her  smiling  land. 

Thus  glorious,  she  will  glide  through  peaceful  years, 

The  joy  and  wonder  of  applauding  spheres, 

And  Christ  will  bear  her  henceforth  honored  name 

On  the  broad  ensign  of  his  conquering  fame !  " 

Once  more  I  desire  to  express  the  gratitude  with 
which  this  work  commenced,  to  the  generous  friends 
to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  the  memorable  oppor- 
tunity of  this  India  visit — out  of  which,  at  their  sug- 
gestion, this  book  has  grown — to  enable  them  to  share 
wdtli  us,  in  some  measure,  what  we  were  there  privi- 
leged to  see  and  enjoy.  I  conclude  with  my  adoring 
acknowledgment  of  the  kind  providential  care  which 
was  over  us  by  day  and  night  during  the  long  journey 
of  twenty-seven  thousand  miles,  and  which  returned 
us  in  safety  and  health 

"From  the  glad  Orient  to  the  still-loved  West." 


THE  END. 


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